A first-half goal by Ciro Immobile and a second-half goal by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wrapped up Borussia Dortmund's 2-0 victory over hapless Arsenal in Group D of UEFA Champions League football.
Arsenal lacked in penetration and ideas to overcome the host's defence as the two strikes on either side of the break were enough for Dortmund to grab three points on home soil Tuesday, reports Xinhua.
It was a perfect start for the Germans into Europe's top-flight competition as Borussia Dortmund took over first position with a two-point lead in Group D, followed by Anderlecht, Galatasaray and Arsenal.
The hosts took control of the proceedings from the kick-off and made no secret of their all-or-nothing style of play. Juergen Klopp's men frenetically dictated the pace to work out the first chances through Sokratis and Ciro Immobile.
Arsenal rarely tested Dortmund's defence and if they did they lacked in precision in front of goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller. However, Dortmund cut a better figure near the goal area as Aubameyang almost overcame Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny on the 27th minute.
However, expectant home spectators at the outsold Signal-Iduna Park had to be patient till 45 minutes when Italian international Ciro Immobile scored the opener for Dortmund. The Italian striker shrugged off two defenders to slot home after a solo run from inside the box into the far post corner. It is the first goal for Immobile for his new side.
The German side started where they left off as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang flabbergasted the visitors to give his team 2-0 lead just three minutes into the second half. Aubameyang utilised a through ball from Kevin Grosskreutz to round Arsenal' s goalkeeper for the second goal of the night.
Arsenal failed to respond and Dortmund kept going as Aubameyang nearly scored his second goal only for his long-range effort to be denied by the bar on the 57th minute.
However, with a comfortable 2-0 lead Dortmund retracted but Arsenal posed absolutely no threat to Dortmund' s defence.
"This is the kind of soccer I want to see from my team. It was nearly a perfect match," Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp said.
