Anderlecht vs. Arsenal: Lessons Learned from Champions League Game
After playing 88 minutes of uninspiring football, Arsenal struck for two late goals to leave the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium with a 2-1 win over Anderlecht.
Kieran Gibbs and Lukas Podolski scored the crucial goals for the Gunners as they remained three points behind Borussia Dortmund in Group D.
Anderlecht scored in the 71st minute by way of Andy Najar's head, but they couldn't hold on in the end to earn what would've been a monumental result.
Here's a look at the lessons we learned from Arsenal's victory in Belgium.
Arsenal's Defending Was Awful at Times
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The defensive effort put in by Arsenal was nothing to write home about, as the back four were far from impressive for the entire match.
On the lone goal scored by the hosts, three defenders were in the vicinity of Dennis Praet before he sent in the cross from the right side that connected with the head of Najar.
The same poor defense reared its ugly head in the 79th minute, when Anthony Vanden Borre hit the top right post with a shot.
On that move, the Gunners back four were opened up by Najar, but the hosts failed to capitalize.
Despite coming away with a win, manager Arsene Wenger must be concerned with how his defense played in a match that should've seen them earn an easy three points.
Anderlecht Became Too Conservative Late in the Match
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In the minutes leading up to the first Arsenal goal, Anderlecht commanded the possession in their half of the pitch, but that changed when manager Besnik Hasi opted to make a few changes.
In the 83rd minute, Hasi brought a fresh face into the attack by taking off Cyriac in favor of Matias Suarez.
That move didn't seem too bad, but the substitution of Praet in the 88th minute did after the Belgian side failed to keep any possession in the waning moments of the match. Praet was substituted for Leander Dendoncker, who is a more defensive-minded player.
For most of the match, Praet was a threat in the attacking third, and with his departure, the hosts were unable to move forward to kill the game off.
The second change by Hasi eventually cost his side three points and a potential challenge for second place in the group.
Arsene Wenger Was Too Reactive
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Before Anderlecht scored the opening goal, the match was calling for an attacking substitution by either side to bring the game to life.
That change did not come until the 75th minute for the Gunners, when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Podolski were brought on for Danny Welbeck and Mathieu Flamini.
Wenger got lucky Wednesday night, as his decision to bring on Podolski paid off in the form of the game-winning goal.
However, Wenger must look back on this match and realize he was reactive instead of proactive in regards to his substitution policy.
In other close games this season, Wenger may pay for bringing on his first substitution in the 75th minute, especially against better sides like Chelsea, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund.
Set Pieces from Both Sides Were Dreadful
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One of the reasons why the first half left a stale taste in the mouths of everyone watching the game was the poor set pieces taken by both sides.
On countless occasions, Arsenal's set pieces resulted in nothing but clearances from the Anderlecht defenders, while Per Mertesacker cleaned up most of the corners sent in by the Belgian side.
Arsenal have a major weapon on set pieces in Mertesacker, but they were only able to find him once in the first half on a corner. That moment came in the 37th minute, when the German soared a header over the goal.
Just like the substitution issue, the failure to score on set pieces when the opportunities present themselves could come back to bite Arsenal at some point in the season.
There is still plenty of time for the Gunners to work on their set pieces, which could play a bigger role in results as the season progresses.
A Scrap for Second Place Is No Longer in the Cards for the Gunners
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By stealing three points at the death, Arsenal also gave themselves a big boost in regards to qualifying for the knockout round.
Thanks to the win by the Gunners and the victory by Borussia Dortmund at Galatasaray, the top two teams in the Group D table are distanced from the bottom two.
Dortmund still hold a three-point lead on Arsenal, but the two sides still have to meet at the Emirates Stadium on Matchday 5.
If the Gunners had lost—or even recorded a draw—in Belgium Wednesday night, their path to the knockout round would've been a bit tougher, especially if an inspired Anderlecht were to play in North London after defeating Arsenal.
With the "what ifs" out of the way, Arsenal can now focus on snatching first place from Dortmund without the worry of a club sneaking up behind them to steal second place.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
