Arsenal held to draw against Anderlecht after blowing 3-0 lead in Chamions League clash

Arsenal blew a 3-0 lead against Anderlecht in their Champions League clash and ended the game with a draw.

Arsenal moved to the edge of the Champions League's last 16 with the draw but they would have booked a place in the knockout stages had they won the match.

Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta's penalty put his side ahead after Anderlecht's Chancel Mbemba fouled Danny Welbeck. Alexis Sanchez doubled the lead with a stunning 20-yard volley before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain added the third.

By the end of one hour in the game Arsenal led 3-0 but blew the lead in the last half an hour, The BBC reported.

Anderlecht defender Anthony Vanden Borre reduced the deficit from close range in the 61st minute before scoring a penalty in the 73rd minute, with Aleksandar Mitrovic equalising in the last minute.

Arsenal had been set to book their place in the knockout stages when substitute Mitrovic headed Andy Najar's 90th-minute cross past Wojciech Szczesny from close range.

Arsenal still need one point from their two remaining games, at home to Borussia Dortmund on 26 November and at Galatasaray on 9 December, to advance to the knockout stage. But with Dortmund five points clear, their hopes of finishing top of the group and heading into next month's draw as one of the seeded teams are fading.

Anderlecht manager Besnik Hasi said that maybe Arsenal thought that they were superior at 3-0 and they could have fun with the public, but added that he is extremely proud of his team and they showed their character and their quality.