London: Arsenal qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League for the 15th successive season as Yaya Sanogo's first goal for the club and a gem from Alexis Sanchez clinched a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.


Arsenal's Chilean striker Alexis Sanchez (L) celebrates scoring their second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D football match between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates Stadium in north London. Pic/AFP 

Arsene Wenger's side were desperately in need of a morale-boosting European victory after back-to-back defeats against Swansea and Manchester United left them well adrift in the Premier League title race. Those dispiriting losses prompted a section of Arsenal's support to call for Wenger's sacking, while stinging criticism of the Gunners boss from the club's second-largest shareholder Alisher Usmanov added to the impression of a season spiralling out of control.