Arsenal get Dortmund lesson

Champions League Group D

Arsenal endured a chastening start to their Champions League group campaign after being overwhelmed by Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park.

Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck either side of half-time and the German club would have been more emphatic victors than 2-0 but for the reflexes of Wojciech Szczesny and their own wastefulness.

For the second time in two matches Danny Welbeck illustrated why his finishing is considered below par for a top forward by failing to convert a one-on-one with a goalkeeper.

With the match goalless and Arsenal under relentless attack, Welbeck managed to drag Aaron Ramsey’s clever pass wide with just Roman Weidenfeller to beat.

It was a key moment and the £16million signing from Manchester United, who had other chances to open his Gunners account, only enhanced concerns over his record in front of goal.

Had he scored it would have been a grave injustice, however, given that Arsenal’s back four were tormented throughout in a display that will see Arsene Wenger face renewed criticism for refusing to sign defensive reinforcements over the summer.At times they were comically poor with Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker fully culpable, although they were offered little protection by Mikel Arteta, who was also exposed by the quick wits of Dortmund.

Wenger can at least offer Arsenal’s injury problems as some explanation for their fragility in defence at Signal Iduna Park.

Full-backs Nacho Monreal and Mathieu Debuchy were in the treatment room and Calum Chambers was confined to the bench because of tonsillitis, so Spanish teenager Hector Bellerin made his full debut.

Surprisingly, another right-back option Mathieu Flamini was omitted from the squad so Bellerin was given the chance to add to his solitary appearance as a substitute in the Capital One Cup.

The early onslaught gathered pace when Sanchez was dispossessed by Sebastian Kehl and this time the side netting foiled Aubameyang.

Remarkably given the one-way traffic, Arsenal should have taken the lead in the 41st minute but Welbeck sent his one-on-one with Weidenfeller wide to beat after the trickery of Ramsey had parted Dortmund’s defence.

On the stroke of half-time Immobile gave a lesson in finishing as picked up possession after a Gunners throw-in, held off Koscielny and crashed the ball past Szczesny.

The result was sealed in the 48th minute when Aubameyang collected a sublime pass by Grosskreutz, rounded Szczesny on the edge of the area and stabbed the ball over the line.

It would have been 3-0 but for Szczesny getting fingertips to a powerful shot from Immobile and Aubameyang hitting the woodwork.

BORUSSIA DORTMUND: Weidenfeller, Durm, Subotic, Papastathopoulos, Schmelzer (Jojic 79), Aubameyang, Bender, Kehl (Ginter 46), Grosskreutz, Mkhitaryan, Immobile (Ramos 85).

ARSENAL: Szczesny, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Arteta (Podolski 77), Sanchez, Ramsey (Cazorla 62),Wilshere, Ozil (Oxlade-Chamberlain 61),Welbeck.

Ref: Olegario Benquerenca (Portugal).