Football Astonishing Anderlecht comeback stuns Arsenal Published on 04/11/2014 at 21:41 Champions League, Group D - Arsenal 3 (Arteta 25 pen, Sanchez 29, Oxlade-Chamberlain 58) Anderlecht 3 (Vanden Borre 61, 73 pen, Mitrovic 90) A shameful Arsenal capitulation saw them lose a three-goal lead against Anderlecht in an enthralling 3-3 draw in the Champions League. While Anderlecht sliced through Arsenal on the counter-attack on a few occasions early on, they were not clinical enough to convert any of their chances. Arsenal had no such problems, and scored two goals in five minutes halfway through the first half. Mikel Arteta put the side ahead with a chipped penalty after Danny Welbeck was fouled in the box, and then Alexis Sanchez improvised a thumping volley after his free kick rebounded off the wall. In the second half, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got Arsenal’s third when he skipped past Anthony Vanden Borre with ease, and finished an electric run with a low, curling shot into the far corner. But Vanden Borre hit back quickly, grabbing an equaliser despite appearing to be in an offside position, to spark an incredible finish. With 17 minutes left, the utility man grabbed a second from the penalty spot after Nacho Monreal hauled Aleksandar Mitrovic down in the box. And there was more drama to come. In the last minute of normal time, Mitrovic glanced an equaliser inside the near post to spark wild celebrations from the visitors. [OVERREACTION THEATRE: WENGER IS DESTROYING ARSENAL] KEY EVENTS 17’ - SZCZESNY SAVES - Kljestan goes so close for Anderlecht. He brings down a spinning ball in the box and fires a shot at goal, but Szczesny rushes out to block. 21’ - SANCHEZ HITS THE POST -.Chambers runs onto a chipped ball, puts a first time pass into Sanchezs path. He skips around the defenders and from a tight angle shoots against the post. 24’ - PENALTY! Mbemba blocks off Welbecks run as he chases a pass, but then tangles his legs and the two collapse. 25’ - GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Anderlecht. Arteta scores - Not quite a panenka, but chipped high into the net and down the middle - sort of. 29’ - GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 Anderlecht. Sanchez scores - Sanchez takes the free kick, and he sends it straight into the all. It comes out to Sanchez, without bouncing, and he lashes a shot low and into the corner. 58 - GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Anderlecht. Oxlade-Chamberlain scores - He steals possession on the left, runs around Vanden Borre as if hes not there, or at least totally static, and curls a low shot into the far corner. 61’ - GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Anderlecht. Vanden Borre scores - He turns in a cross from the left. He was offside, but there you go. 72’ - PENALTY! Monreal drags Mitrovic to the ground as they chase a cross into the box. 73’ - GOAL! Arsenal 3-2 Anderlecht. Vanden Borre scores - Vanden Borre sends Szczesny the other way, calmly slotting his shot into the goal. 90’ - GOAL! Arsenal 3-3 Anderlecht. Mitrovic scores - He runs across Mertesacker to get to the cross first, and glances his shot inside the near post. [ANNOYED WENGER SLAMS ARSENALS DEFENDING] KEY STATS Arteta’s penalty was Arsenal’s 500th goal at the Emirates. Anderlecht have conceded a goal in 12 successive Champions League games, letting in 31 goals overall. This is only the second time in 14 Champions League games between teams from England and Belgium that the English side has not won. Vanden Borre’s penalty was the first penalty Anderlecht scored in the Champions League. TALKING POINT Are Arsenal any different from previous years? One supposed saviour - Alexis Sanchez - and then a mixture of middling midfielders and promising youngsters. The best teams grind out wins in and amongst their best performances, whereas Arsenal’s best performances this season have seen them progress by the skin of their teeth. At their worst, they manage to lose and draw in the most hapless and gutless manner. This was one of those occasions. MATCHCAST: FULL MATCH STATS AND COMMENTARY MAN OF THE MATCH Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal): He faded towards the end of the match and had to be substituted, but until then he provided direct running, close control and an eye for the most dangerous move. PLAYER RATINGS Arsenal: Szczesny 6, Chambers 6, Mertesacker 5, Monreal 5, Gibbs 5, Arteta 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Ramsey 5, Alexis 6, Cazorla 5, Welbeck 5. Subs: Flamini 5, Rosicky 5, Podolski 4. Anderlecht: Proto 6, Vanden Borre 6, Mbemba 6, Deschacht 6, Acheampong 6, Kljestan 6, Tielemans 5, Najar 5, Praet 6, Conté 6, Cyriac 6. Subs: Dendoncker 6, Kawaya 6, Mitrovic 7.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Nov 2014 05:01:34 +0000
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