Arsenal vs. Anderlecht: Lessons Learned from Champions League Game
Arsenal failed to clinch qualification to the knockout round of the UEFA Champions League Tuesday by drawing 3-3 at home with Anderlecht.
The Gunners, who would've been through along with Borussia Dortmund with a win, fell apart in the second half on their way to losing a three-goal lead.
Mikel Arteta, Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain handed the hosting Gunners a big lead, but an Anthony Vanden Borre brace and a late equalizer by Aleksandar Mitrovic ruined their day.
Here is a look at six lessons we learned from the Group D draw at the Emirates Stadium.
Anderlecht Learned from Arsenal's Win at the Death Two Weeks Ago
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Anderlecht were dealt a cruel blow at home on Matchday 3 when Arsenal scored on two occasions in the final minutes to leave the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium with a 2-1 win.
That defeat was fresh in the minds of the Belgian side, and despite going down three goals they used that as an example in making a comeback.
The third-place team in Group D showed a ton of resilience on their way to three second-half goals to keep the dream of qualifying for the knockout round alive for now.
For advancement to the next stage to be a real possibility, the Belgian champions need to win their two remaining games in Group D. Arsenal also must stumble on two occasions against Borussia Dortmund and Galatasaray for that to be possible.
Nacho Monreal's Careless Challenge Opened the Door for the Comeback
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Anderlecht's attempt at a comeback didn't seem like a reality until the 72nd minute, when Nacho Monreal pulled down Aleksandar Mitrovic in the box.
The foul was a poor one from the left-back, who paid the price for his challenge when Anthony Vanden Borre knocked home the second Anderlecht goal from the spot.
Before Monreal's bad challenge, Arsenal still held a comfortable lead despite the growing pressure from the visitors.
Once Monreal brought down Mitrovic, the energy of the match changed, and Anderlecht gained a belief that they could actually pull off a result on the road in north London.
The Entrance of Aleksandar Mitrovic Changed the Match
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Mitrovic came into the match in the 62nd minute in favor of Cyriac, who had a rough day up front.
The entrance of the forward flew under the radar because two goals were scored in the four minutes prior to the change.
Anderlecht manager Besnik Hasi sensed that Arsenal were a bit vulnerable, and by bringing in Mitrovic he altered the formation of his side.
Once the Belgians went to a more attack-minded style with Mitrovic and fellow second-half substitute Andy Kawaya up front, the pace of the match changed.
The Arsenal back four could not deal with Mitrovic, as was shown on the penalty conceded by Monreal. Mitrovic further influenced the match in the 90th minute when he nodded in a cross from Andy Najar to tie up the match at 3-3.
Going for the result was seen as a risky move in the 62nd minute, but it eventually paid off in the form of a valuable point.
Alexis Sanchez Did All the Little Things Right to Hand Arsenal a 3-Goal Lead
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Before all hell broke loose in north London, Alexis Sanchez turned in two stellar plays to hand the Gunners a three-goal lead.
On his 29th-minute free-kick, Alexis kept his concentration after his shot hit the wall. The rebound bounced right to the Chilean, who knocked the ball into the bottom-right corner for Arsenal's second goal.
In the buildup to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's 58th-minute strike, Alexis dispossessed Sacha Kljestan to start the move on the left side of the pitch.
These two plays may not seem like a big deal, but they displayed exactly what the Chilean brings to the pitch along with his world-class skill.
Alexis rarely gives up on plays, which is a trait that lets him create something out of nothing. If he displayed a lackadaisical effort on either play, the Gunners would have been in worse shape after the final whistle blew.
Wojciech Szczesny's Early Denial Grew More Meaningful as Match Progressed
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When Wojciech Szczesny denied Sacha Kljestan on the right side of the box in the 15th minute, no one expected the play to make a major mark on the final result.
After Anderlecht came back to score on three occasions, Szczesny's biggest save of the day carried a ton of importance. Had Kljestan's shot found the back of the net, it would have changed the entire complexion of the match.
By keeping the momentum on his team's side with the save, Szczesny allowed Arsenal to go forward and earn two goals before the half.
While it may seem like a small detail in a match with plenty of important moments, it is worth noting that Anderlecht never got their attack going in the first half after the save.
The Gunners Have No Need to Panic Yet
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Arsenal would've loved to be three points behind Borussia Dortmund heading into their Matchday 5 clash at home with the Germans, but that is not the case after Tuesday's draw.
Despite the morale-sinking result, the Gunners are still five points ahead of Anderlecht in the race for second place in Group D.
Making up a five-point deficit with a trip to Dortmund still ahead is a difficult task for the Belgians, which is why Arsenal should not be worried about their knockout-round prospects.
Even if Arsenal fail to pick up points on Matchday 5, they will have a chance to pick up a result in Turkey against last-place Galatasaray. The Gunners beat the Turkish side 4-1 to open Group D play on Matchday 1.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
