Eight weeks ago, Arsenal fans would have been fearing the worst when they were drawn against last season’s Champions League finalists.

But the Gunners are playing with such verve and confidence, that this game is very even.

Two season’s ago these teams met in the group stages at a time when Dortmund were not quite as strong as they are today. The Gunners drew 1 – 1 away in Germany, before earning a 2 – 1 win at the Emirates.

Tonight’s game has the potential to be high-scoring with both managers favouring high-tempo attacking football. Formation-wise they will both line-up with a 4-2-3-1 although they apply that in different ways.

Dortmund press heavily, winning the ball back as quickly as possible, before springing on the attack with devastating effect.

That pressing is exemplified by the fact that they have made more tackles per game than any other side in the high-tempo Bundesliga this season. That has also meant they have conceded less shots per game than any other side in the German top flight in 2013/14 and only Juventus’ generally water-tight defence has allowed more shots per game in the top European leagues.

Against Marseille at home two weeks ago, Dortmund won the ball back five times in the opposition half, in comparison to their opponents who won it back three times despite having more possession. In the first game against Napoli, they intercepted the ball seven times in the opposition half despite being down to 10-men for a portion of the match.

Indeed new signing Pierre-Emerick Aubamayeng said he was surprised by the amount of tracking back that forwards have to do in the Bundesliga.

Arsene Wenger made a point of emphasizing the need for Arsenal to be quick in the transition from defence to attack (and back again) ahead of the impressive 2 – 0 win over Napoli.

The Gunners will have to be even more alert tonight and the loss of Mathieu Flamini to a head injury could be a blow with the need for a midfield terrier to slow Dortmund down in those central areas.

With Theo Walcott out injured, Jurgen Klopp’s side will have far more pace down the flanks with Marco Reus and Aubameyang operating in the same position that Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere are likely to fill for Arsenal.

Their pace and directness explains why Dormtund have more shots attempts than any other team in the Bundesliga (they average eight more shots per game than Arsenal and have the highest shot attempts per game of any team in the top five leagues in Europe so far this season). Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will certainly have to be on his game tonight.

Key battles

• Olivier Giroud and Robert Lewandowski will be at opposite ends of the field but they provide similar attributes – an ability to get on the end of chances and to link up with the support runners via flick ons and hold up play.
• Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey will win the possession battle if Arsenal play with their usual gameplan. But they will be pressed heavily by Nuri Sahin and Sven Bender who are also technically skilled players in their own right.
• Dortmund centre-half Mats Hummels is one of the best defenders in the world when it comes to playing out from the back. Arsenal would do well by attempting to disturb his rhythm.