Lewandowski earns Dortmund plaudits

Borussia Dortmund pair Neven Subotić and Nuri Şahin praised match-winner Robert Lewandowski after the Polish striker's goal seven minutes from time earned their side a 2-1 win at Arsenal FC in UEFA Champions League Group F. Lewandowski's goal took Dortmund joint top with Arsenal and SSC Napoli in the section. Arsenal and Dortmund meet again in Germany on Matchday 4 with midfielder Jack Wilshere calling on his side "to regroup and show our spirit".

Neven Subotić, Dortmund defender
We are obviously very happy with the three points. We came here not expecting anything but hoping for the best obviously. As the game progressed we always wanted more and more. I don't think Arsenal were playing their best football, they were trying to play pretty safe. They felt they were going to score one goal more than us through their patience and through their play, but we ran a lot and defended very well and had some great chances.

[The winning goal] was a huge relief. [Robert Lewandowski] had to fight for 85 minutes to get his goal and he definitely deserved it because it was a tough fight for him against [Per] Mertesacker and [Laurent] Koscielney and I'm happy for him.

Nuri Şahin, Dortmund midfielder 
Of course it was important to win away against a very good side. To get the three points is massive. For us it was important to stay good defensively and be patient. We knew we would get chances and the chances we got we had to score. We knew that and we did that. Lewandowski worked [so hard]. It was great for him to score here and I was happy for him.

Aaron Ramsey, Arsenal midfielder
In the second half we were in control of the game then obviously we switched off for 30 seconds. We were in their box and then 30 seconds later the ball is in the back of our net. I was obviously disappointed with the way they scored their first goal when I was caught on the ball.

We were a bit slow to start tonight, but after about 25 minutes we got into the game and got our goal and then second half we took it to them. We were in control of the game and didn't look like we were going to concede but then obviously we did. We switched off for a minute and that's what happens.

We took 20 minutes to get going and found ourselves 1-0 down by then but we showed good character in getting back into the game. We did well and obviously created a few chances, hit the bar and on another night we may have taken the lead. We have to learn from the way we defended for the second goal. They are a good team and they played well tonight.

Jack Wilshere, Arsenal midfielder
They got the goal at the end and we have to deal with that and bounce back. They are a good team. They came here and wanted to play. They are difficult to break down as well, they have good team shape. We wanted to get Mesut [Özil] on the ball but they made it difficult for us. Now we have to bounce back from that. They played well, fair play to them.

With the run we were on it seemed as if at the moment everything was going right for us so when they scored early it was a bit of a setback. But we bounced back and got a good goal, a great cross from Bac [Sagna] and [Olivier] Giroud put it in. At 1-1 the game was there for the taking and we tried and tried and then they hit us on the break.

There are three games left and nine points to play for so it is in our hands. We know what we have to do. We've got difficult games. Next game is away to Dortmund and it will be a hostile atmosphere, but we've been there before and I thought we were unlucky that night [Arsenal drew 1-1 away in the 2011/12 group stage] not to win. We've got the players to do it. We have to regroup and show our spirit now.

I'm all right, I've done that before I just sort of jarred my ankle. For five or ten minutes it's painful then you can run it off and it loosens it up and in the end I was fine. We started well in this competition and it is not the end of the world. It is not nice to lose at home, but we are in a good run in the Premier League and we have a big game on Saturday [at Crystal Palace FC] and we have to keep that going.