Jürgen Klopp was keen to highlight the difference in style between Dortmund and Arsenal when interviewed by English journalists earlier this week. "[Arsène Wenger] likes having the ball, playing football, passes … it's like an orchestra," the Dortmund manager said. "But it's a silent song, yeah? I like heavy metal."

With that analysis in mind, this match followed the expected pattern – it was a contest between two sides playing at entirely different speeds. Dortmund pressed ferociously, they attacked immediately, their wide players sprinted up and down repeatedly. Arsenal were calmer, cooling the tempo with long periods of patient possession play. They dominated possession in the first period, yet did not attempt a single shot.

For long periods both managers probably believed their own side was dominating. Arsenal saw considerably more of the ball but almost exclusively inside their own half. Again this emphasised the difference between the coaches – Wenger would have considered his side to be on top, seeing possession as a fundamental part of dominance. Klopp, who boasts that his side's gegenpressing is "the best playmaker there is", would have been encouraged that his players were trying to win the ball in advanced positions.

Statistically Dortmund had considerably more efforts on goal in this match; 15 to four. Throughout their victory at the Emirates a fortnight ago Klopp's side concentrated their attacking down the right, eventually scoring a late winner when Robert Lewandowski converted a cross from the right-back Kevin Grosskreutz, and it was the same approach here. Grosskreutz again played an advanced role, taking advantage of Santi Cazorla's lack of defensive discipline, while hard-working the right-winger Jakub Blaszczykowski constantly sprang forward immediately after Dortmund won possession. The hosts consistently switched the ball to that flank, and the Arsenal left-back, Kieran Gibbs, had his toughest match of the season.

The only major chance of the first period came after Gibbs was drawn up the pitch at a Dortmund throw-in. With Laurent Koscielny attempting, and failing, to stick tight to Lewandowski, the left half of Arsenal's defence was nowhere to be seen as the centre-forward turned. Blaszczykowski charged into space, teeing up Henrikh Mkhitaryan for a golden opportunity. Three minutes earlier, Blaszczykowski had spun away from Gibbs, before sending in a dangerous cross that forced Per Mertesacker into an awkward clearance.

Within the first five minutes of the second half Grosskreutz played a dangerous cut-back that forced Mikel Arteta to intercept and then a fine cross on to the head of Marco Reus. Dortmund were constantly threatening down that side.

Aaron Ramsey's goal was against the run of play but Arsenal's performance in the final 30 minutes was extraordinarily confident. Rather than sitting back willingly inviting Dortmund pressure, they retained the ball in advanced positions and consistently threatened from a traditionally atypical route that has featured heavily in Arsenal's attacking recently: crosses into the box. Olivier Giroud and Mertesacker both went close, and the Dortmund goalkeeper, Roman Weidenfeller, appeared uncomfortable under heavy pressure.

At 1-0 Arsenal demonstrated they could defend in two entirely separate ways. They could frustrate Dortmund through ball retention, having enough faith in their passing ability to push forward, potentially allowing Dortmund space to break into. But only once, following a set piece, did the home side threaten on the counter-attack.

Arsenal ended the game with six defenders on the pitch, after the introduction of regular substitutes Nacho Monreal and Thomas Vermaelen. Photograph: Graphic

However, Arsenal also did the old-fashioned defensive things efficiently. This is the club's most settled back four for years and they coped comfortably with Dortmund's surprisingly desperatelate approach of high balls towards Lewandowski. As has become common, defenders Thomas Vermaelen and Nacho Monreal were introduced to protect the existingback four, helping to clear the ball.

Arsenal spent the final half-hour attacking primarily through crosses and defending with six defenders on the pitch. It was a more pragmatic Arsenal than we've become accustomed to, perhaps more George Graham-era than Arsène Wenger-era. But it served to demonstrate this side's experience, maturity and tactical versatility.