The Gunners were denied victory in their Champions League Group F encounter at Signal Iduna Park as an exquisite volley from substitute Ivan Perisic secured a last-gasp 1-1 draw. It looked as if Robin van Persie had snatched Arsenal an unlikely victory in Germany after withstanding a barrage of attacks before the home side struck a late blow. With manager Arsene Wenger forced to watch from the stands due to a touchline ban, assistant Rice was the man charged with leading the side and he was proud of the team's effort. "We battled really hard and we knew it would be a hard, hard game," he said. "To be able to defend well is a high quality skill and that is something all of our players did this evening. "I shouldn't think many teams will come to Dortmund and beat them and we were very, very close to doing that. "Don't forget Dortmund are a really good side. There is no question about that. "Would we have liked to have won the game? Of course we would. "We were so close and so very, very near. "But the same thing happened to us in terms of the goal as happened when we played arch rivals Tottenham and the boy (Danny) Rose hit an unbelievable shot from about 35 yards. "It was the same this evening. I should imagine that he could try that 25, 30, 40 times and he would hit it over the bar or at the goalkeeper. It was a great goal." Tuesday night's hard-fought result followed the 1-0 defeat of Swansea at the weekend. Wenger admitted on Monday he hoped for a win that would kick-start their season but, despite the late equaliser, Rice believes the draw can have the same effect. Asked whether Arsenal have turned the corner, he said: "Very much so. "It seemed, especially the game on Saturday, it was our start of the season. "Because of the uncertainty as to who the players would be that leave us and whether they wouldn't. "The players that we have acquired are very, very good players, contrary to what other people have said. "I have no doubt that they will show it and in the games to come." Rice will return to his regular role alongside Wenger in Saturday's Barclays Premier League match at Blackburn as the Frenchman's ban only covers European games. The former defender admitted it was odd not having Wenger alongside him and the experience reinforced his decision not to get into management. "It was extremely strange not having the manager next to me," he said. "Usually he is shouting in my ear: 'why did he do that' and 'why didn't he do that'. "Also not to be able to be in contact with him, which is a strange decision but UEFA have their reasons why. "Did I like it? Not really, no. It has never been one of my ambitions to be the manager of a football club. "It is very strange. It is too stressful for me." Jurgen Klopp was the man in the opposite dugout and the Borussia Dortmund manager was delighted by his side's showing. "I am very satisfied with the performance of my team today," he said. "Arsenal are a very offensive-playing team and we were able to hold them. "We were rewarded with one point from this hard fight and it is great for this young team to have achieved this draw."
