Wenger gunning for revenge in crunch meeting with Dortmund
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has urged his team to draw on the hurt of defeat to Borussia Dortmund last month when they seek revenge in Germany this evening.
The Gunners’ adventurousness spilled over into recklessness in the first meeting, last year’s Champions League runners-up punishing them on the counter-attack in a 2-1 win.
It has left Wenger’s men needing a result – and ideally a win – in the return clash, and the Frenchman hopes they will remember how close they came in London.
“We maybe lost the first game because we wanted to absolutely win it at all costs and we exposed ourselves,” he said.
“It was a midfield battle and we got caught on the counter-attack because we were all up front and were not happy with the draw. It will strengthen the resolve of my team to come out and show a different level.”
Group F is on a knife-edge, with Arsenal, Dortmund and Napoli on six points apiece, though the Gunners still have to face both of their rivals away.
Wenger, without midfielder Jack Wilshere though left-back Kieran Gibbs is available, insists his Premier League leaders will go for the jugular in both fixtures.
“I don’t know if this will be a decisive match – it also depends what happens between Marseille and Napoli,” he said.
“But it is a very important match for us now, because we lost at home and now have to win the away games. We try to win every away game, which gives us strength and motivation.”