•Iwobi fails to click
Nigeria’s duo of Chuba Akpom and Alex Iwobi enjoyed mixed fortune in Arsenal’s barren draw with Borussia Dortmund side to end their perfect start to the UEFA Youth League campaign at Meadow Park.
The young Gunners were left to rue Akpom’s missed penalty as a tireless Borussia Dortmund side.
The striker, who missed one and scored one in the last match with Napoli, was denied by an excellent low save by Dortmund goalkeeper Steffen Goecke after 20 minutes.
And to compound his disappointing evening, Akpom was shown a second yellow card in the last minute for dissent.
Arsenal found it difficult to create much against a Dortmund side that were a fair imitation of Jurgen Klopp’s seniors and held out despite a late dismissal of their own when Nico Knystock was given a second booking.
Each time a red-shirted player found themselves with the ball in an attacking position, they were immediately hemmed in by three opponents and the impetus dropped away.
Well-organised, strong in the tackle and full of energy, Dortmund were clearly far superior to the Marseille and Napoli teams Arsenal have seen off 4-1 in this competition so far and deserved the point that keeps them second behind the young Gunners in Group F.
On the one real occasion Arsenal did break through, free-running Ainsley Maitland-Niles was tugged down in the box by the panicked Knystock.
England Under-19 international Akpom, who seems tailor-made for this continental tournament, struck a firm spot-kick towards the bottom right corner, only for Goecke to guess correctly and palm it clear. Jack Jebb planted the rebound into the side-netting.
Arsenal coach Steve Gatting made just one change from the outstanding performance against Napoli three weeks ago, with Kristoffer Olsson coming back in to the midfield and Austin Lipman, who scored twice against the Italians, dropping to the bench.
Both teams started brightly, with Iwobi showing a good understanding with Akpom as he released him down the left wing.
Dortmund weren’t afraid to show a physical side, tactics that eventually forced Arsenal to follow suit and referee Arnold Hunter brandished six yellow cards in the first half – three apiece.
When Dortmund did attack, it was with the same speed and clever movement that Klopp’s team have been showing in the Bundesliga and Champions League these last few years.
Right winger Burak Camoglu was a particular menace and his angled through ball led to Linus Schewior firing across the face of goal.
At the other end, Arsenal might have had the lead when Akpom mistimed his jump and failed to connect properly when Olsson planted a corner precisely on his head.
The penalty save seemed to affect Arsenal a little and Dortmund took the initiative, another neat move resulting in Manuel Greshake teeing up Oeguen Guemuestas to test Deyan Iliev in goal.
Akpom was one of the three Arsenal players booked before half-time, sliding in late on Hendrik Brauer and forcing the defender’s withdrawal at the interval with an ankle injury.
