Praet clumsily brings down Cazorla and Arsenal are awarded a late free kick on the right hand side of the penalty area. It's whipped into the box but is easily cleared by the visitors.
90' +3
A. Vanden Borre gets yellow.
Vanden Borre brings Sanchez to the ground with a terrible challenge from behind and earns himself a yellow card as a result.
90' +2
Podolski is presented with a great opportunity to fire Arsenal back into the lead from the edge of the box, but he ends up scuffing his shot well wide of the far post.
90'
A. Mitrović has scored a goal for Anderlecht! Assist by A. Najar.
GOAL! Anderlecht have done it! A fantastic cross from Najar finds the head of Mitrovic, who sends the ball into the top corner of the net with a fantastic diving header. Arsenal have completely fallen apart and allowed the Belgian side the opportunity to complete a truly brilliant comeback.
89'
A. Mitrović gets yellow.
Praet challenges Sanchez poorly just outside of the Arsenal penalty area, and the hosts are awarded yet another free kick. Mitrovic is clearly angry with the decision and earns himself a yellow card for arguing with the referee.
88'
Ramsey shoots from the resulting set-piece but the effort is poor and it ends up sailing over the top of the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
87'
S. Klještan gets yellow.
Again, a rash challenge results in a free kick for Arsenal. This time it's Kljestan, who elbows Rosicky in the back to earn himself a yellow card.
86'
Vanden Borre brings down Sanchez with a crunching challenge, gifting a free kick to Arsenal and, more importantly, a chance to breathe once again.
84'
Acheampong hits the crossbar! Deschacht pulls a lovely ball back to the Ghanaian, who is just inside the penalty area, and he unleashes a great shot that grazes the top of the crossbar.
82'
Ł. Podolski enters the game and replaces D. Welbeck.
And the second is Podolski, who takes the place of Welbeck.
Minute
Description
81'
T. Rosický enters the game and replaces A. Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Arsenal have decided to make a double substitution as they look to hold on to their one-goal lead. The first player to come on is Rosicky, who replaces Oxlade-Chamberlain.
80'
Mitrovic whips in a fantastic cross that almost finds Najar at the back post, but Gibbs is just about able to head the ball over the top of the crossbar and out for a corner.
79'
Tielemans fires a shot from the resulting set-piece that looks to be heading for the bottom left hand corner of the net, but it's saved well by Szczesny.
78'
Oxlade-Chamberlain brings down Praet with a nasty swipe and Anderlecht are awarded a free kick in a very dangerous position.
77'
Vanden Borre picks up the ball near the halfway line but loses possession cheaply. Cazorla then sprints forward before firing a shot from the edge of the box but it's saved comfortably by Proto.
75'
Welbeck darts into the Anderlecht penalty area and looks set to unleash a shot on goal but is dispossessed wonderfully by Acheampong, who has had a fantastic game.
73'
Penalty goal scored by A. Vanden Borre for Anderlecht!
GOAL! Vanden Borre calmly slots the ball into the bottom right hand corner of the net to score Anderlecht's first ever Champions League penalty. The Belgian side now just need one goal to pull off a truly incredible comeback!
72'
Nacho Monreal gets yellow.
PENALTY! It's all going wrong for Arsenal as Monreal clumsily brings down Mitrovic in the penalty area to gift Anderlecht the chance to reduce the deficit to just one goal from the penalty spot.
71'
Welbeck pushes forward down the right wing and earns Arsenal a corner. It finds the head of the striker but his effort is straight at Proto, who is able to stop it well.
69'
Clearly confident about what they're seeing in front of them, the small group of Anderlecht fans camped in the corner of the stadium are making a fantastic amount of noise as they try to urge their team on to score again.
67'
The resulting corner is fired into the middle of the Arsenal penalty area but it's easily collected by Szczesny, who comfortably beats Mitrovic to the ball.
66'
Mertesacker loses the ball, allowing Praet to regain possession for Anderlecht. He sends a great pass over to Kawaya, who tees up Acheampong just inside the penalty area. The left-back then fires a low cross that seems to be heading for Mitrovic in front of goal, but it ends up taking a deflection off a red and white shirt that sends the ball out for a corner.
64'
Anderlecht look full of confidence after Vanden Borre's goal, and they're looking dangerous down the left wing, where Acheampong and Kawaya are linking up extremely well.
62'
M. Flamini enters the game and replaces Mikel Arteta.
A. Mitrović enters the game and replaces G. Cyriac.
Anderlecht have made their final substitution of the game, with Mitrovic coming on for Cyriac.
Meanwhile, as expected, Arteta has come off due to injury to be replaced by Flamini.
61'
A. Vanden Borre has scored a goal for Anderlecht! Assist by A. Kawaya.
GOAL! Anderlecht have pulled a goal back after a great attacking move! Kawaya twists and turns on the left hand side of the penalty area before firing a great low cross into the heart of the six-yard box where Vanden Borre is able to tap the ball into the back of the net.
60'
Arteta seems to have picked up an injury, and it looks as if he's going to have to be replaced.
58'
A. Oxlade-Chamberlain has scored a goal for Arsenal!
GOAL! It's 3-0 and Arsenal have all but confirmed their place in the knockout stage of the Champions League! Sanchez dispossesses Kljestan in the middle of the pitch, allowing Oxlade-Chamberlain to pick the ball up before sprinting past Vanden Borre and slotting it into the bottom right hand corner of the net.
56'
What a chance for Welbeck! Oxlade-Chamberlain darts into the penalty area from the left flank before chipping a lovely ball towards the back post, where the striker jumps high before sending his headed effort just wide of the goal.
54'
L. Dendoncker enters the game and replaces C. Mbemba.
Mbemba will play no further part in the game due to his injury and 19-year-old Dendoncker has come on to replace him.
53'
Things aren't looking good for Mbemba, who is on the floor and in considerate discomfort. It looks as if the centre back has a problem with his ankle.
52'
An absolutely fantastic back-heel from Sanchez tees up Oxlade-Chamberlain, who launches a long ball over the top of the Anderlecht defence and into the path of Ramsey, but the pass is slightly overhit and ends up running out for a throw-in near the corner flag.
50'
Arsenal have started the second half extremely well, with Oxlade-Chamberlain finding a lot of joy down the right wing. But, for now, the scoreline remains at 2-0.
48'
Chance after chance for Arsenal! First, Welbeck is presented a great opportunity to fire his side 3-0 ahead but sees his close-range tap-in blocked, before Oxlade-Chamberlain also has his follow up shot stopped near the goal line.
46'
A. Kawaya enters the game and replaces I. Conté.
Just one substitution has been made during the half-time break, with Kawaya coming on for Conte to make his Champions League debut.
And we're underway once again!
45'
Cazorla sends a fantastic ball into the Anderlecht penalty area from the resulting free kick and it finds the head of Sanchez, who tries to send it over to Welbeck with a deft header but ends up seeing his effort cut out by Deschacht.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be one minute of added time.
44'
Ramsey is brought down 35 yards out by a nasty challenge from Kljestan, leaving him in serious pain on the floor. It looks as if the Arsenal midfielder received a knee in the back from the American.
42'
Cazorla curls the resulting corner in towards the middle of the Anderlecht penalty area but it's only able to meet the head of Vanden Borre, who clears the ball away from danger comfortably.
41'
Welbeck beats the offside trap with a great run to pick up another fantastic Sanchez lofted pass. He takes a lovely first touch before firing a shot from the near post, but it's saved well by Proto, who parries the Arsenal striker's effort out for a corner.
39'
Welbeck picks up the ball down the left wing before cutting it back to Ramsey. The Welshman pulls off a great first time back-heel to send it into the path of Oxlade-Chamberlain, who then unleashes a fierce shot that goes just wide of the far post.
37'
Oxlade-Chamberlain bursts down the left flank, beating Tielemans with ease, before sending a terrific low cross towards the edge of the six-yard box that ends up missing Welbeck by just a few inches.
35'
Tielemans fires a dangerous cross into the box from the corner and the ball bounces around the penalty area before Arsenal are finally able to clear the danger after a few nervy moments.
34'
Great chance for Anderlecht! The visitors break away quickly, and Cyriac and Praet play a lovely one-two between one another before the latter darts into the Arsenal penalty area. He twists and turns around two defenders before firing a shot on goal, but it's blocked well by Chambers and ends up bouncing wide of the far post.
32'
The resulting corner is whipped into the box where it finds Chambers, but it takes the youngster by surprise and he's unable to direct the ball towards goal.
31'
Arteta sets up Oxlade-Chamberlain with a lovely pass from midway inside the Anderlecht half of the pitch. The Englishman then sprints into the penalty area from the right wing but is dispossessed wonderfully by Acheampong before he's able to unleash a cross.
29'
A. Sánchez has scored a goal for Arsenal!
GOAL! What a strike by Sanchez! The Chilean is brought down on the edge of the penalty area by Vanden Borre, resulting in a free kick in a dangerous position. His initial shot from the resulting set-piece is blocked by the wall but his second, a fierce volley from 20 yards out, flies through the middle of the sea of purple shirts in front of him before burying itself in the back of the net to make it 2-0 to Arsenal.
27'
Ramsey chips a deft cross into the heart of the Anderlecht penalty area where it finds Cazorla on the edge of the six-yard box. The Spaniard is unable to make decent contact with the ball, however, and the visitors can clear the ball away from danger.
25'
Penalty goal scored by Mikel Arteta for Arsenal!
GOAL! Arteta steps up and coolly slots the ball into the back of the net to put Arsenal 1-0 up with his 50th goal in English football.
24'
PENALTY! Welbeck darts past Mbemba in an attempt to latch on to a great through-ball from Sanchez before being clumsily brought down inside the box by the defender, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the penalty spot.
22'
Sanchez hits the post! Oxlade-Chamberlain pulls the ball back to Sanchez, who bursts into the Anderlecht penalty area and fires a rocket of a shot that ends up ricocheting off the woodwork before flying out for a goal kick.
20'
Again, poor passing from Arsenal gifts possession to Anderlecht and Cyriac is able to sprint forward, but this time Mertesacker is there to cut out the danger with another impressive tackle.
18'
Arsenal lose the ball deep inside the Anderlecht half of the pitch and the visitors break away on a quick counter attack down the right wing through Cyriac. He's completely on his own, however, and ends up running the ball out of play for a throw-in under pressure from three defenders.
16'
What a save by Szczesny! Conte sends a lovely through-ball into the path of Cyriac, who then sets up Kljestan with an equally fantastic cross. The American takes a touch and blasts the ball towards goal, but the Arsenal goalkeeper pulls off a fantastic stop to deny Anderlecht the opening goal of the game.
14'
Great block by Mbemba! The visitors are unable to clear the ball after initially cutting out Oxlade-Chamberlain's low cross, allowing Ramsey the chance to shoot from close range. His effort looks to be heading for the back of the net but the Anderlecht defender throws his body in the way to send it over the top of the crossbar.
12'
Anderlecht look extremely dangerous when breaking away on quick counter attacks. This time, Cyriac is almost able to penetrate the Arsenal box after sprinting forward from the halfway line, but Mertesacker is just about able to dispossess the Ivorian with a great interception.
10'
Arsenal push forward on what looks to be a very dangerous attack but it's brought to an end by careless play from Welbeck. Anderlecht then break away on a swift counter attack through Praet, who sees his shot from the edge of the penalty area take a deflection off Mertesacker that sends it just wide of the near post.
8'
Again, Arsenal find joy down the right side of the pitch where Oxlade-Chamberlain is left in acres of space. Chambers finds the winger with a great pass forward and a dangerous low cross is then sent into the box, but it's just about fired away from danger by Mbemba.
6'
A wayward pass by Sanchez gifts possession to Anderlecht, and they break away quickly before Acheampong receives the ball on the left hand side of the penalty area. He sets himself up and fires a shot towards goal but Chambers is able to stick a foot out to send the effort wide of its intended target.
4'
Held back by the sea of purple shirts in front of him, Cazorla launches a long ball forward that almost finds Sanchez on the left flank, but Vanden Borre is there to cut out the danger before clearing the ball back up the pitch.
2'
Arsenal immediately push forward and Chambers and Ramsey link up well down the right wing, but the latter is unable to keep hold of the ball and Acheampong is able to shepherd it out of play for a goal kick.
1'
And we're off! Arsenal get us underway, attacking from left to right.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today's Champions League group stage clash between Arsenal and Anderlecht. My name is Ben Cullimore and I will be keeping you up to date with all of the action from the Emirates Stadium.
Despite losing their opening game against Borussia Dortmund, it's been a decent start to the Champions League group stage for Arsenal, who already look well on course to qualify for the knockout round thanks to back-to-back wins against Galatasaray and Anderlecht. They were made to work extremely hard by the Belgian side in their last meeting in Brussels two weeks ago, with the hosts set to come away with all three points before Kieran Gibbs and Lukas Podolski salvaged a win for Arsenal with two goals in as many minutes at the end of the second half. Arsene Wenger's men will be hoping for a smoother ride tonight, as another win against Anderlecht will move them eight points clear of the Belgian Pro League champions with two group stage games left to play.
With their chances of qualifying for the knockout round looking increasingly unlikely, Anderlecht are now firmly involved in a fight with Galatasaray for a spot in the Europa League, as both sides have only managed to pick up a point each so far this campaign. A win tonight could put them in pole position to finish in third place in Group D if the Turkish side lose against Borussia Dortmund in their clash at Signal Iduna Park, whilst it would also give them a renewed sense of hope about their chances of pulling off a late overtaking of Arsenal if this evening's hosts slip up in their remaining group stage games.
There's just over 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let's have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening...
Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs; Ramsey, Arteta; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez, Cazorla; Welbeck.
Arsenal substitutes: Martinez, Bellerin, Flamini, Rosicky, Walcott, Podolski, Sanogo.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has made just two changes to the side that narrowly won in the reverse fixture two weeks ago, with Mathieu Flamini and Jack Wilshere dropping out of the starting line-up to be replaced by Mikel Arteta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Meanwhile, Besnik Hasi has decided to make just one change to the Anderlecht side that started that game, with Sacha Kljestan coming in to take the place of Steven Defour.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 2-0 ANDERLECHT
After a nervy start in which they found it hard to penetrate a well organised Anderlecht side, Arsenal are now well on their way to qualifying for the knockout stage of the Champions League with two group stage games left to play after a fantastic first half in which Sanchez ran rings around the Belgian side. The Chilean has been instrumental in all of the hosts' attacking moves, and was rewarded for his efforts with a brilliant volleyed goal just before the half-hour mark. It's going to take a lot for Anderlecht to find their way back into the game after struggling so much in the first 45 minutes.
The two teams are making their way out onto the pitch ahead of the start of the second half.
FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 3-3 ANDERLECHT
Arsenal were in cruise control just 13 minutes into the second half with a three-goal advantage over an Anderlecht side that were struggling at both ends of the pitch, but somehow the hosts threw it all away after a collapse of epic proportions, allowing the Belgians the opportunity to fight back from 3-0 down to leave the Emirates Stadium with a well-earned point. Arsene Wenger looked furious as he stomped down the tunnel after the full-time whistle was blown, and rightly so, as he was let down by poor defending and a lack of concentration from his side, who were so impressive up until the hour mark.
The draw means that Arsenal have not yet guaranteed their place in the knockout stage of the competition, although they remain in second spot in Group D for another week, five points ahead of Anderlecht, who now lie one point in front of Galatasaray after the Turkish side were beaten 4-1 by Borussia Dortmund this evening.
My name is Ben Cullimore and it's been an absolute pleasure describing the action to you this evening. Until next time, goodbye!
Commentary
More…