Arsene Wenger slams defence as Arsenal collapse from 3-0 up
Hosts were set to cruise into last 16 until giving up three late goals to draw against Anderlecht
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger slammed his side’s defending after watching Anderlecht claw their way back from three goals down to earn a 3-3 draw in Champions League group D on Tuesday.
The hosts were 3-0 ahead inside the hour and apparently cruising into the last 16 of the competition for a 15th successive season under the Frenchman when the wheels came off in spectacular fashion at The Emirates.
Instead of shutting up shop, Wenger’s side capitulated in worrying fashion, allowing the Belgian champions to hit back with two goals from Anthony Vanden Borre, the second a penalty conceded by Nacho Monreal, before Aleksandar Mitrovic’s 90th minute header left the home crowd stunned.
“Annoyed? Yes. But you have to give them credit. They did fight until the end and we gave a poor defensive performance from the first to the last today. We never felt comfortable,” Wenger said.
“We got punished. A bit of bad luck because the first goal was offside but our defensive performance was not good enough.”