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Arsenal can win Champions League - Jurgen Klopp

Last updated on .From the section European Footballcomments865

Wojciech Szczesny, Per Mertesacker

Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp believes Arsenal can win the Champions League - if they avoid fellow German side Bayern Munich in the draw.

Aaron Ramsey was on target as Arsenal beat Dortmund 1-0 on Wednesday to stay top of Group F with two games left.

The hosts had come into the match looking for an eighth successive home Champions League win having never lost to an English side.

"They could win it - as long as they don't play Bayern Munich," Klopp said.

"They are young, healthy and good technicians. They won a clever game tonight."

Ramsey's strike was his 11th for Arsenal in 17 games this season.

His form has been one of the factors in Arsene Wenger's side topping the Premier League after 10 games.

The Gunners are five points clear of second-placed Chelsea and have scored 22 top-flight goals this season.

Holders Bayern clinched their place in the knockout stages by beating Viktoria Plzen on Tuesday.

Last year's runners-up Dortmund may need to win their remaining two games to progress to the last 16.

They trail both Arsenal and Italian side Napoli - their opponents in their next group game on 27 November - by three points.

Klopp, who lost the Champions League final and his side's domestic title to Bayern Munich last season, is braced for a tense finish to the group, but confident Dortmund will survive through to the knock-out stages.

"It is a very strong group and the positive news tonight is that two wins and we will qualify," he said.

"We created much more today up front but they scored with their first chance of the match and we could not come back. This defeat could have been avoided.

"It's definitely going to get exciting from now on."

Arsenal have never won the European Cup, finishing as runners-up to Barcelona in the 2006 tournament in their most successful campaign.

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865 comments

  • Comment posted by U15712565, at 11:06 7 Nov 2013

    Another striker in January makes Arsenal a very dangerous proposition.

    I think most neutrals would be happy to see them winning either a domestic or European title, and hopefully thrashing a few that sold their souls to sugar daddy's en route.

  • Comment posted by A_FORCE_ONE, at 12:01 7 Nov 2013

    Let's give credit when it's due.Not losing an away game ,since losing to Spurs at White Hart Lane in March, is very impressive.But why does the media have doubts about their defence even though they had the 2nd best defence in the Premier league last season as well as the best defence away from home ? I think the missing link is the home fans failure to cheer their team regardless of the score

  • Comment posted by ClinicalHitman, at 12:26 7 Nov 2013

    Even as a Utd fan, it's fantastic to see Aaron Ramsey playing as well as he is.

    You would not wish the injury he suffered against Stoke on your worst enemy and to see the footballer he is becoming is a pleasure. Turns out Arsenal bagged themselves TWO world class players over the summer.

    If we don't win the league, I hope Arsenal do.

  • Comment posted by U2603014, at 11:50 7 Nov 2013

    When people say how will Arsenal cope without Giroud, I think they could. They would just modify their formation. The key is Mertesacker and Koscielny who have been rock solid for them this season. Obviously Ramsey and Ozil are very important as well. But its the same with most teams. You take Rooney and Van Persie out of United and they would be mid table.

  • Comment posted by U15767965, at 11:52 7 Nov 2013

    @32 "This article provides a v interesting take on why. I haven't seen this kind of analysis before, but it shows Arsenal are one of the best teams at creating chances in the box, and keeping other teams out of theirs."

    Do a Whois lookup on the domain you posted, it belongs to a "Ben Harrison". Your username is "BenH".

    Why are you pretending you've never visited your own website before?

  • Comment posted by Jamesath, at 12:39 7 Nov 2013

    Completely agree with the comment about our home fans. To be a great club you need great fans who stick by you through the tough times too. A goal down and the Emirates really isnt the best place to be..

  • Comment posted by lamournedurepas, at 15:31 7 Nov 2013

    Can Arsenal win the Champions League?... according to unconfirmed reports John Terry has just been spotted at a well known sports retail outlet buying an Arsenal replica kit, just in case.

  • Comment posted by Eye_Said, at 11:43 7 Nov 2013

    Man C fan
    I've often pointed out on here that AW is great & AFC should be commended for running their cub so well. The vocal minority of Gooners that were baying for blood 8 weeks or so ago should now feel very ashamed - AFC are doing really well.

    Will they win anything? Well, they could. CL? Nah. Germans or Spanish have it, I think.

    Q: Will AFC invest in Jan? Hmm. If so, EPL is very possible!

  • Comment posted by mrjones, at 11:03 7 Nov 2013

    (United fan) just wanted to thank Wayne Rooney for giving currently the best English team added incentive to give united a good kicking on Sunday.

  • Comment posted by U15801302, at 13:32 7 Nov 2013

    Everyone in the media wrote Arsenal off before the season began. Then we got off to a flyer and everyone said it wouldn't last, especially after this massive set of games. We comfortably beat Liverpool and got a great result against Dortmund away. If we beat Utd this weekend what will they MOTD pundits have to level against Arsenal?

    In Wenger We Trust (Still, this never changed for some of us!)

  • Comment posted by markyp1965, at 13:10 7 Nov 2013

    It's a shame that the majority of posters on here cannot put aside their biased opinion and give a balanced view. Arsenal were excellent last night, albeit with a little fortune and like they did on Saturday, answered a question raised by those that doubt their credentials. Credit should be given where it is due, they're where they are on merit.

  • Comment posted by U15691412, at 13:21 7 Nov 2013

    As a Spurs fan I'd be happy to see them win the league if it meant the likes of Chelsea, City and United miss out. They, like Tottenham (whether you like it or not) demonstrate the way a football club should be run. If they win and we come a close second I'd be content with that! Good luck to them.

  • Comment posted by U15549031, at 10:55 7 Nov 2013

    Please please please please please batter Man Utd this weekend and kill off any hope they have of coming back.

  • Comment posted by U14765216, at 13:03 7 Nov 2013

    They think Arsenal has no depth wait and the players will get worn out wait till Walcott, Wilshere Flamini, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Gnabry, Diaby. all get fit.

  • Comment posted by Walks619, at 10:52 7 Nov 2013

    Whilst Arsenal CAN win the CL, I doubt they will. I am an AFC fan and I am really happy with how this season is going thus far. We have beaten Spurs and Liverpool, both currently in the top 4, but both were at home. All our other games were against teams in the bottom half. Our first away test is Sunday. Come through that with a point or 3 and the sky is the limit.

  • Comment posted by Blitz843, at 12:06 7 Nov 2013

    Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool Arsenal.

    From the above i would much rather Arsenal win the league playing great football.

    Also AARON RAMSEY. i cannot remember a playergoing from performing so averagely to producing some world class performances. Fair play.

    A United fan..

  • Comment posted by J0NNY88, at 13:44 7 Nov 2013

    Double Bubble for the Gunners this season....ManU are in for a good kicking if they play like they did mid week, they were trash. Their only chance is from Young in the box from the 4m platform...Sky might want to get Tom Daley in to commentate on this one

  • Comment posted by U15897633, at 17:12 7 Nov 2013

    there was a mention of Man u shirt sales being massive, yes of course Man u fans are much fatter but this doesn't necessarily mean more revenue.

  • Comment posted by U15554219, at 17:33 7 Nov 2013

    Why would a team who are top of the league by 5 pts and top of their champions league group be considered to be possible winners of either competition!! Fans are deluded, they must be.

    "TOO MUCH HYPE" yes, everybody knows it's Man Utd that will win both, failing that Chelsea, and failing that some other European team that is not Arsenal (maybe Bayern/Barca).

    :D Lol welcome to the BBC forum

  • Comment posted by U15607207, at 14:15 7 Nov 2013

    @176 "Arsenal have yet to play any of the teams above them in the league. Until Arsenal play one of the teams above them in the league, they cannot be considered title challengers."

    If I was an Arsenal fan I would be delighted if they played nobody above them for the rest of the season.

    Anyway they have played and beaten 2 teams above United already.

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