Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp says he’s expecting Arsenal to play with real pace at the Westfalenstadion on Tuesday night after the acquisition of Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez.

The Gunners’ new attacking duo were deployed together for the first time against Manchester City on Saturday demonstrating a verve for closing down from the front that helped Arsene Wenger’s side dominate large periods of the game.

Speaking to the Evening Standard ahead of the two clubs’ seventh Champions League encounter, Klopp revealed he was impressed by both signings.

“They [Arsenal] have signed two outstanding players in Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez, who will give them even more pace. I’m expecting the Gunners to try and utilise this on Tuesday. But first and foremost, both teams will have to be fully focused and defend well.”

Asked whether he thinks Arsenal have what it takes to go all the way in Europe, Klopp avoided making specific predictions but did highlight a recent pattern of unexpected challengers.

“Recent finals have always been contested by a top favourite and a dark horse like Atletico Madrid last season or us the year before. But I don’t like to think in terms of ‘favourites’. Of course, Chelsea, Real Madrid or PSG will always be mentioned.

“Maybe Arsenal as well, who knows? I certainly couldn’t pick a favourite myself. At this level, every match is a real challenge.”

While the Gunners will be without Olivier Giroud and fellow Frenchman Mathieu Debuchy, Dortmund have recently endured terrible injury problems of their own.

Marco Reus returned from the ankle twist that kept him out of Germany’s triumphant World Cup winning campaign only to suffer a similar knock two weeks ago. He’s one of several big names to be missing tomorrow, although Klopp remains upbeat about the season ahead.

“You are right about the incredible injury woes we suffered [last year]. And there has been no real let-up as we are without players like Nuri Sahin, Oliver Kirch, Ji, Ilkay Gundogan, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Marco Reus at the moment.

“I still felt we had a successful season last season, as we achieved everything we set out to do. And our goals for the 2014-15 season are similar, namely to progress from our Champions League group, achieve direct qualification for next year’s Champions League and, if possible, reach the German Cup Final in Berlin again.”

Jack Wilshere says he’s looking forward to the third clash at Borussia Dortmund’s fabled ground in four years and believes a good result this time around will prove important ahead of games against Galatasaray and Anderlecht.

“They’re always good games when we face them,” he told Arsenal.com.

“It’s a tough game and we go there first this time, so the hardest match of the group will be the first one. We can put a marker down in that game to say we’re here to win this group. Even if we don’t win the game, we don’t want to lose it.

“The main one missing for them is Reus, he’s fantastic. I’ve watched him over the last few years and he’s got better and better. Now he’s one of the best players, if not the best player, in Germany so they’ll miss him. But they’ve got quality players who can come in and they’ve made a good start to the season.”