Arsenal missed out on securing early qualification to the Champions League knock-out stages after throwing away a three goal lead in a 3-3 draw against Anderlecht.
The English side looked odds on to join group leaders Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 after racing into a 3-0 lead at the Emirates thanks to goals from Mikel Arteta, Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. But a defensive implosion and a plucky second-half display from their Belgian opponents forced Arsene Wenger's side to settle for a point.
Although it means the Gunners have not yet secured their passage into the knock-out stages, they remain five points clear of their nearest rivals Anderlecht with just two rounds of games remaining in Group D. Arsenal are still on the brink of qualification and need one point from their remaining games to advance, although they will have to be very careful when they host Dortmund at the end of the month.
Finishing top of the group is now unlikely because even if the London club beat Dortmund they would be two points behind the Germans going into the final round of games. The Gunners must make sure they remain composed and don't let their grip on second place loosen like their lead against Anderlecht did.
Arsenal broke the deadlock after 25 minutes when Mikel Arteta calmly chipped a penalty beyond Silvio Proto following Chancel Mbemba's foul on Danny Welbeck. It was the Spanish midfielder's first ever Champions League goal and at that point looked to be the start of a great night for the Gunners.
In-form Sanchez scored his third goal in two games with a fine individual goal soon after. The Chilean's free-kick hit the wall before bouncing back into his path for him to hit first-time with a delightful volley into the bottom corner of the net after 29 minutes.
Arsenal looked in complete control and, as they took a 2-0 lead in at the break, there was plenty reason for the Gunners' faithful to be feeling positive about.
Wenger's men looked to have put the game beyond doubt after 58 minutes when Oxlade-Chamberlain burst forward and raced into the box before drilling a shot past Proto.
Then came a moment of controversy three minutes later, although at the time it appeared to have merely caused a consolation for the visitors. Anthony Vanden Borre tapped in from close range to start the Belgian outfit's amazing fightback, although the defender was clearly offside when he put the ball in the back of the net. It didn't appear as if it would matter as most onlookers thought the Gunners would see out the match to claim maximum points.
But the Belgians had other ideas and pulled another goal back 17 minutes from time. Nacho Monreal, who was continuing to fill in at centre-back due to injury, clumsily hauled down substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic to concede a penalty and Vanden Borre made no mistake with his spot-kick. Vanden Borre started the game having a torrid time at the back, but ended it with two goals in what really was a crazy game and it wasn't finished there.
It still looked as though the Gunners would still get a narrow victory to keep up the pace with leaders Dortmund, but Anderlecht refused to give up and snatched a point right at the death. Mitrovic got the wrong side of Per Mertesacker to head home a dramatic leveller in injury time.
Arsenal will be deeply frustrated to only come away with point and have every right to be aggrieved by the decision to allow Anderlecht's first goal, but there is no excuse for the lapses in concentration that then cost Arsenal two points.
On the positive side, Sanchez was again superb and Oxlade-Chamberlain looked very lively in attack in a game that for at least an hour looked good for the Gunners. But the manner of the draw and the result itself was inexcusable and Wenger's men really should've been more solid in seeing the game out. The hosts will need to regroup and show vast improvement with a more consistent performance for the whole 90 minutes when they travel to Swansea at the weekend.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS
No comments:
Post a Comment