Arsenal started the evening how they do most games - dominating possession. The home side had 76% of the ball in the opening 10 minutes, and created the first clear-cut chance in the game. Man of the moment Alexis Sanchez picked up the ball just outside the box, but hit his shot well wide.
Despite starting the game on top, Arsenal were constantly caught out on the counter-attack in the first-half. Anderlecht's attacking midfielder Dennis Praet had their first chance after capitalising on a misplaced pass from Danny Welbeck, but Mertesacker was on hand to deflect the shot wide. Sacha Kljestan had the visitors' best chance of the half and possibly of the game, flicking the ball past two defenders and, when one-on-one with Wojciech Szczesny, making a Champions League return for the Gunners, hit it straight at the Poland goalkeeper.
Anderlecht completed just 23 passes in the opening 15 minutes of the game, despite creating more chances than the Gunners in that time. Mikel Arteta and Calum Chambers were looking very impressive for the home side as the game wore on, but it was Aaron Ramsey who had the next chance. After some great build-up play from Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck, the Welshman struck a shot straight at defender Chancel Mbemba.
The Gunners got even closer to a goal just past the 20-minute mark. Alexis Sanchez won the ball in the area, before ghosting past three defenders, only to see his shot hit the post. Sanchez was involved in every other opportunity that half, and was vital to the penalty decision that went Arsenal's way. The Chilean, who has been in fine form for his new club, set Danny Welbeck through on goal, before he was in a tangle with Mbemba. Mikel Arteta stepped up to score his first goal in the Champions League, and it means his last nine Arsenal goals have come from the penalty spot.
It wasn't long before Arsenal doubled their lead. Sanchez made a fantastic 60-yard run from his own half and was brought down just outside the box. The explosive winger dusted himself off and took the costless-kick himself, only to see the ball hit the wall. As the ball bounced back to him, Sanchez struck a sweet volley into the bottom corner of the net. Arsenal almost certainly into the knockouts at this stage, it would seem.
The visitors didn't have another shot on goal in the opening half after that second goal, as the Gunners pushed for a third. Oxlade-Chamberlain tried to double his Champions League goalscoring tally to two, but his curling shot went inches wide of the goal. Danny Welbeck controlled the ball well and beat the offside trap, only to see his shot saved by Proto, in what turned out to be the last chance of the half.
Half-time: Arsenal 2-0 Anderlecht
Arsenal started the second half just how they would have liked, and created the first chance within a minute of the restart. Kieran Gibbs broke costless in the box, but instead of shooting, he unselfishly played the ball to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had another shot blocked. Welbeck then met Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross, but his weak header went wide.
Anderlecht were looking worse for wear, having made all three substitutions by the hour mark. They were left with a central midfielder and a left-back filling in at centre-half. Only minutes later, the Gunners went three up. Sanchez did fantastically well to win the ball from Kljestan, and Oxlade-Chamberlain finally managed to get the goal he had deserved on the night. The winger glided past Anthony Vanden Borre, before calmly putting the ball past Proto.
The visitors looked dead and buried at this stage, so it was a shock to all when they pulled a goal back a few minutes later. Cyriac played a ball across the box to Vanden Borre, who looked slightly offside when scoring, and scored what seemed to be just a consolation.
The Gunners looked very sluggish after conceding, as if to be playing for the 3-1 victory. Flamini had to be alert to head a dangerous-looking cross over the bar and away from immediate danger. A lapse in concentration was to cost the home side not too long after, as Nacho Monreal, who continued to fill in at centre-back, dragged down Mitrovic. The referee pointed to the penalty spot for the second time in the game, and Vanden Borre got his second of the night.
Arsenal struggled to get any grip on the game after conceding two goals in a short space of time, as Anderlecht had all of the ball and all of the chances. After two wins in their last 34 Champions League games, the travelling fans went ballistic in the final minute of normal time. Aleksander Mitrovic beat Per Mertesacker to the ball and the Serbian striker headed home.
Full-time: Arsenal 3-3 Anderlecht
