Football: Arsenal's Wilshere, Gibbs doubtful for Dortmund trip

Arsenal's Jack Wilshere (left) and Kieran Gibbs are doubtful for the Champions League Group F trip to last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund with coach Arsene Wenger eager to make amends for last month's loss to the Germans. -- FILE PHOTOS: AFP
Arsenal's Jack Wilshere (left) and Kieran Gibbs are doubtful for the Champions League Group F trip to last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund with coach Arsene Wenger eager to make amends for last month's loss to the Germans. -- FILE PHOTOS: AFP

BERLIN (Reuters) - Arsenal's Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs are doubtful for the Champions League Group F trip to last season's runners-up Borussia Dortmund with coach Arsene Wenger eager to make amends for last month's loss to the Germans.

Wenger spoke last week of the "important period" the Premier League leaders are going through - the trip to Dortmund in between Premier League games against Liverpool, whom they beat 2-0 on Saturday, and Manchester United.

The win over Liverpool in the top-of-the-table clash was particularly satisfying for Wenger, who told reporters: "That is as well as we have played all season.

"People have been skeptical about us so far this season but today will increase our confidence and get the fans right behind us."

Arsenal, though, have a significant challenge to meet against Dortmund, whose late 2-1 victory over the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium last month left them level on six points with the north London club and Napoli as the Champions League group stage reached its halfway mark.

Wenger is expected to be without Wilshere and could also miss Gibbs while he also needs to see progress on Mathieu Flamini, who missed the win over Liverpool.

Defender Gibbs went off holding his calf in that game while Wishire injured his ankle in training last week.

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