Arsenal threw away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 against Anderlecht at the Emirates Stadium this evening.
The Gunners were ahead on 25 minutes when Mikel Arteta tucked away a penalty, before Alexis Sanchez volleyed home a second shortly after.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put Arsenal well and truly in command on the hour with his well-taken strike, but Anthony Vanden Borre then kick-started a memorable comeback, tapping home on 61 minutes and pulling back a second from the spot.
Substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic was then on hand to head home an equaliser in the final minute of normal time to salvage a memorable Champions League Group D point for the visiting side.
Here, Sports Mole takes a look back at an entertaining 90 minutes of action in North London.
Match statistics
ARSENAL
Shots: 13
On target: 6
Possession: 65%
Corners: 8
Fouls: 10
ANDERLECHT
Shots: 7
On target: 5
Possession: 35%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 14
Was the result fair?
Three goals to the good with 30 minutes left to play, Arsenal somehow let this game slip from their grasp. Credit must go to Anderlecht for sticking to the task at hand, grabbing what looked at the time to be a consolation goal through Vanden Borre, before the former Portsmouth man converted from the spot to set up a tense finale.
In the reverse meeting two weeks ago, the Gunners staged a late salvage mission to take all three points, and although this may have lacked the drama at the very death, substitute Mitrovic's headed goal one minute from time saw the visitors make the journey back to Belgium with no less than what they deserved.
Arsenal's performance
The ultimate Jekyll-and-Hyde performance from Arsene Wenger's charges, who for two thirds of the game looked well in control and ready to put Anderlecht to the sword. That was not the be the case, of course, and much of their good work prior to the hour will now go unnoticed. Once more the Gunners were let down at the back, and no matter how hard the majestic Alexis tried to create openings, it seemed as though this one was destined to end all square from the moment Vanden Borre pulled one back.
Much of the blame will lie with Wenger for allowing his team to continue pressing forward before and after that all-important first goal from the visitors, although in fairness to the Frenchman his side looked well in control at that stage. Arsenal are still in command of their own destiny in terms of progressing from Group D, although with a five-point gap to make up on leaders Borussia Dortmund it appears that they will finish second - and therefore face a more difficult side in the next round, on paper at least, for the fifth year running. They have only themselves to blame following this shambolic stumble.
Anderlecht's performance
Following a tense finale to the game, the opening stages of the contest have largely been forgotten. It must be remembered, however, that the Purple & Whites created the first chance when Sacha Kljestan - brought into the team in place of the injured Steven Defour for this one - forced Wojciech Szczesny into a big save.
They were perhaps unfortunate to trail 3-0, and at that stage it looked as though it would get worse before it got any better. Besnik Hasi had different ideas, though, and as soon as Vanden Borre's close-range finish hit the back of the net, Mitrovic was immediately brought on. The Serbian's presence made a big difference, and it was his well-taken headed effort in the 89th minute which rounded off this incredible contest. Anderlect can still qualify for the knockout stages at Arsenal's expense, but they will need to win their next two games if that is to happen. To put that in some context, they have won just two of their last 25 games at this level.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Alexis Sanchez: Giving this award to an Arsenal player may seem a little strange, although there is no questioning the quality that the Chilean offers his side. His 18-yard volley took his goal tally up to 11 in 13 outings in all competitions, and his all-round game this evening helped to highlight just what an asset he is to the North London outfit.
Biggest gaffe
Having just conceded a penalty which well and truly gave the opponents a foothold in the game, Nacho Monreal was treading the thinnest of lines when he put his hands on referee Clement Turpin. Some will argue that the makeshift centre-back, looking as shaky this evening as he did a fortnight ago, should have received a straight red card for bringing down the striker in the first place; he certainly deserved at least a second yellow for the follow-up offence.
Referee performance
Turpin had a few big decisions to make, namely the awarding of a penalty to either side. Both were solid decisions, though, and there can be little complaint. It should be noted that Vanden Borre was in an offside position when he tapped home his first, yet that decision was out of the hands of the French official in the middle.
What next?
Arsenal: The Gunners travel to face Swansea City on the weekend, looking to build on their two-game winning run in the Premier League.
Anderlecht: The Belgian champions will no doubt take a great deal of confidence from tonight's game, which they will look to use to good effect in a table-topping clash against Gent.
Daniel Lewis
