Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal vice-captain, has described the crucial Champions League Group F match away to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday as a ‘huge’ test, but says confidence is sky high at the Emirates at the moment with the Gunners five points clear at the top of the Premier League after defeating Liverpool on Saturday.
Arteta played a starring role in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over the Reds, but admits that it will be a very different match out in Germany, against the team whom they lost 2-1 to at home a fortnight ago. Alongside Napoli, all three teams are now on six points, and victory take the pressure off Arsene Wenger’s side needing a win in Napoli in the final matchround on December 11.
After the Dortmund match, Arsenal’s vital week continues with a trip to Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday.
"The Dortmund game is huge," said Arteta. "We knew this week was going to be tough and this is a good way to start it.
"Dortmund will be a very different game to Liverpool, with the way they play, so we will have to get ready for it.
"I didn't think Dortmund were the better team when they won at the Emirates last time. We conceded a goal when we were on top in the game, and were likely to score a second to kill the game.
"But we know in the Champions League against those teams you are limited to small chances, and it was our fault we lost, but I think we showed we are the same level as Dortmund.
"We don't want to go to Napoli needing a win. But when you look at the fixtures at the start of the group, it would have been strange if by the last game you are already qualified given the quality of the teams, so we might need to get something there, too."
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