A solitary second half goal from Aaron Ramsey handed Arsenal a crucial 1-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in a UEFA Champions League match at Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday night.
The result sees Arsenal top Group F on nine points ahead of Napoli who beat Marseille on the night in the other group game.
Chances on goal were few and far between in the opening 45 as both team’s kept their cards close to their chest and did not venture too far forward in attack.
The first real effort on goal came in the 17th minute as Marco Reus headed the ball across the face of goal for Neven Subotic to volley, but his miss-timed effort bounced narrowly wide.
The next significant chance of the half came 20 minutes later as Jakub B?aszczykowski curled a left-footed shot inches wide of the goal from just inside the box.
Arsenal were mere spectators in the first half, but that certainly changed in the second 45 as they saw more of the ball and created a few chances of their own.
Still, Dortmund started the better of the two sides after the break and even had the ball in the back of the net in the 52nd minute courtesy of Reus, but it was disallowed due to him being in an off-side position.
Ten minutes later, however, and Arsenal did find the opening goal as Mesut Ozil crossed the ball to the back post where Olivier Giroud headed it back into the danger area which allowed Aaron Ramsey to get in ahead of the defence to head it past the keeper, 1-0.
Ramsey should have scored his second in the 65th minute after some superb skill saw him control the ball on his chest before firing it straight at the keeper from close range.
Dortmund tried to find their way back into the game, but Arsenal held on for a crucial away win which sees them top their group.
