Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are not inferior to Borussia Dortmund - despite losing to them at Emirates Stadium.
Last season's beaten Champions League finalists threw Group F wide open with a 2-1 victory in north London just under a fortnight ago, a result that left Dortmund, Arsenal and Napoli all on six points after three games.
Arteta does not doubt Dortmund's quality but he says the manner of their win - secured by a late breakaway goal from Robert Lewandowski - masked a dominant second-half display from the Gunners.
"We knew this week was going to be very tough, so beating Liverpool is a good way to start it"
"No [they weren't the better team], we conceded a goal when we were on top in the game, and were likely to score a second to kill the game," said Arteta.
"We know in the Champions League against those teams you are limited to small chances, and it was our fault [that we lost].
"It is a massive game again [in Dortmund on Wednesday]. We knew this week was going to be very tough, so beating Liverpool is a good way to start it. Dortmund will be a very different game, with the way they play, so we will have to get ready for it."
Arteta was outstanding as Arsenal opened up a five-point lead in the Premier League by beating Liverpool 2-0 on Saturday, and the Spaniard says the Gunners are brimming with self-belief.
"When you are at the top compared to where we were last season, it feels different," he said. "We have more belief and are starting to create a bit of fear into the opposition, that is giving us a better chance to win the games.
"When you are on a good run and the confidence level is high, it makes everything a bit easier."
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