Arsenal 2-1 Borussia Dortmund: Video highlights

Robin Van Persie continued his red-hot form as the talismanic captain led from the front by scoring a brace, leading Arsenal into the last 16 round of the Champions League with a match to spare. Arsenal emerged 2-1 winners against Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates in a match that was hard fought but well won by the Gunners.

Van Persie opened the scoring in the 49th minute as he headed home after Alex Song produced a brilliant marauding run from the left and delivered a superb cross for the captain. In the 86th minute, the captain was at it again when he produced a tap in after Mikel Arteta’s corner was flicked on from the near post. The brace took Van Persie’s goal tally for 2011 to 33 goals, an extraordinary feat. Dortmund were by no means pushovers in the match, for they fought well despite losing Mario Gotze in the first half due to a knee injury. The consolation goal for Jurgen Klopp’s side came in 92nd minute when Shinji Kagawa scored, but it was too late for Dortmund to stage a comeback by then.

The victory and qualification to the knockout stage signals a dramatic turnaround in Arsenal’s season, who began with a Group stage qualifier against Udinese and suffered incredible domestic woes that left them lying at the foot of the Premier League table, but have since then made giant strides to do away with the early season blues.