Gibbs fit, Wilshere out: Arsenal and Dortmund predicted line-ups and stats preview

Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Venue: Signal Iduna Park

Borussia Dortmund will be welcoming Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal to the Wesfalenstadion for what will be a crucial clash in Group F as the Champions League knock-out stages await.

The two sides are delicately poised on six points and share the top spot with Napoli, who are also on the same total, and the winner of the match will be gaining a huge advantage over their opponents going into the final two games.

Team News:

Borussia Dortmund

The main absences for the hosts are Ilkay Gundogan (back) and Lukasz Pisczcek (hip) who are both on the long-term injury list.

Arsenal

The Gunners have a injury list as long as their arm, with Jack Wilshere (ankle), Serge Gnabry (ankle), Mathieu Flamini (groin), Theo Walcott (abdomen), Yaya Sanogo (back), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Lukas Podoloski (hamstring) and Abou Diaby (knee) all ruled out of the clash.

Manager Arsene Wenger does have some good news as Kieran Gibbs travelled with the squad with the Frenchman stating he is “completely available”.

Predicted Line-ups:

Borussia Dortmund

Jurgen Klopp is expected to chop and change his side for the visit of Arsenal with Erik Durm, Sokratis, Julian Schieber and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set to be dropped from the starting line-up.

Marcel Schmelzer, Neven Subotic, Marco Reus and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are all expected to be part of the team to face Arsenal with no fresh injury worries to consider.

4-2-3-1; Weidenfeller; Grosskreutz, Hummels, Subotic, Schmelzer; Sahin, Bender; Blasczcykowski, Mkhitaryan, Reus; Lewandowski.

Arsenal

Arsene Wenger has several calls to make ahead of the game, with the first decision being whether or not he selects Kieran Gibbs after he hobbled off against Liverpool.

Nacho Monreal is likely to get the nod otherwise, while Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta are expected to be retained in midfield with Jack Wilshere ruled out with a ankle problem.

And finally, Tomas Rosicky will more than likely continue to deputise at right-wing due to the absences of Theo Walcott and Serge Gnabry.

4-2-3-1: Szczesny; Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Arteta, Ramsey; Rosicky, Cazorla, Ozil; Giroud.

Recent Form:

Both teams have enjoyed a relatively successful start to their Champions League campaigns, with two wins from their first three games so far.

They also arrive at the game on back of wins in their respective domestic leagues, Arsenal winning 2-0 against Liverpool in the Premier League at the weekend and Dortmund destroying VfL Stuttgart 6-1 in the Bundesliga.

The chance of leading Group F is at stake, and they will also be keeping an eye on Napoli’s match against Marseille.

Players to Watch:

Borussia Dortmund - Robert Lewandowski

As ever, the Polish striker will be the danger-man when Arsenal come to visit the Westfalenstadion and Jurgen Klopp will be relying on the striker to fire them to victory.

The Dortmund hit-man has three goals in the Champions League so far – including a strike against Arsenal in the previous fixture – and nine goals in 11 games in the Bundesliga.

Arsenal - Olivier Giroud

And at the other end of the pitch, the French striker will be crucial to Arsenal’s hopes of taking all three points away from Germany.

The big centre-forward has delighted many onlookers with his hold-up play, demonstrating a range of flicks and tricks designed to pull defenders out of position.

He will need to do that once more against the vastly experience Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic in order for the Gunners to gain a foothold in the match.

Prediction

This will be a very tight contest between two of the best sides in Europe on form, but Dortmund will be enjoying the home advantage and the famed ‘Yellow Wall’ will be screaming them on to victory.

The firepower of Lewandowski, Reus and Mkhitaryan will also be difficult to keep out, and Arsenal’s injuries have reduced their squad strength somewhat.

Dortmund 2-1 Arsenal