Arsenal’s defensive frailties cost them an early ticket to the second round of the Champions League as they threw away a 3-0 lead against Anderlecht.
A Mikel Arteta penalty allied with two stunning goals from Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave them a commanding lead.
But the Belgians set up an anxious final 17 minutes as Anthony Vanden Borre scored twice, including one from the penalty spot.
Arteta stroked home calmly from the spot just before half-time.
Sanchez had provided the pass for Danny Welbeck to chase before the striker was felled in the area, and the Chilean was soon on the scoresheet himself.a
Having won the free kick, Sanchez’s set piece initially hit the wall but the ball looped back to him and he sent a volley crashing into the bottom corner.
Oxlade-Chamberlain had a shot excellently saved by Silvio Proto less than two minutes into the second half, as the hosts showed little sign of the implosion to come.
And the goal the England man’s performance so richly deserved arrived just over 10 minutes later as he pounced on a mistake from Kljestan, drove past Vanden Borre and finished with aplomb into the far corner.
It looked as though the Gunners were cruising into the last 16, but Anderlecht had other ideas.
First, substitute Andy Kawaya found space on the left to cross for Vanden Borre, standing in an offside position, to tap into an empty net.
The Emirates was suddenly tense, and the atmosphere would get even more fraught with 17 minutes to go as Nacho Monreal tugged Mitrovic to the ground in the area.
Vanden Borre stepped up from 12 yards to grab his second goal of the game and silence the majority of the capacity crowd.
And Arsenal’s vulnerability at the back, where Monreal continues to look out of his depth, were further highlighted late on as Mitrovic leapt to seal a stunning point.
Real Madrid booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with two games to spare by maintaining their 100 percent record with a 1-0 victory over under-strength Liverpool.
In-form Karim Benzema scored the only goal in the first half but there could have been plenty more, with visiting keeper Simon Mignolet making a series of good saves to keep his team in contention.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers faces a barrage of criticism after leaving out a host of first-team regulars, including Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Jordan Henderson, Philippe Coutinho and Mario Balotelli ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.
It was no surprise when the hosts went in front after 27 minutes, with a slick passing move creating space for Marcelo whose left wing cross was stabbed home at the far post by Benzema.
There were more chances for Madrid before half-time, with Ronaldo’s thunderbolt free-kick forcing an awkward parry from Mignolet, and the Belgian made another save to keep out Marcelo’s volley after another run from the full-back.
Rodgers belatedly introduced Gerrard, Sterling and Coutinho as his team chased a late leveller, but despite at times looking less than comfortable Madrid’s defence was rarely troubled.
Borussia Dortmund confirmed their place in the knockout stages with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Galatasaray.
The Germans may be struggling domestically in the Bundesliga but are unbeaten in Europe this season and once again looked impressive last night.
Marco Reus opened the scoring in the 39th minute as he sprinted on to Lukasz Piszczek’s fine pass before slotting a finish past Fernando Muslera.
Defender Skoratis made it 2-0 from close range 10 minutes into the second half after Gala failed to clear a corner.
Hakan Balta’s fine near post header pulled one back for the Turkish side 15 minutes later but Ciro Immobile sealed the three points in the 73rd minute converting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s crossfield pass on the break.
Immobile then had a hand in the fourth as his volleyed cross was deflected over the line by Galatasaray defender Semih Kaya.
In Turin, Juventus came from behind to beat Olympiakos 3-2.
Andrea Pirlo scored a first-half free-kick on his 100th Champions League appearance but the Greeks took a 2-1 lead through goals from Alberto Botia and Delvin N’Dinga.
However, an own goal by Olympiakos keeper Roberto levelled matters before Paul Pogba struck the winner 46 seconds later.
Elsewhere in Group A, goals from Koke and Raul Garcia have Atletico a 2-0 victory over Malmo.
Basel thrashed Ludogorets 4-0 in Switzerland with 17-year-old Breel Embolo on target along with Derlis Gonzalez, Shkelzen Gashi and Marek Suchy.
Emerging Benfica forward Anderon Talisca continued his fine season with an 82nd minute winner against Monaco as the Portuguese side claimed a 1-0 victory.
Earlier, a second-half double from Son Heung-min earned Bayer Leverkusen an impressive 2-1 win at Zenit St Petersburg.
The South Korean curled home a brilliant first from outside the area following a clever free-kick after 68 minutes and then finished clinically to add a second five minutes later.
The German side rode their luck at times, but Zenit could not muster a response until the 89th minute when substitute Jose Salomon Rondon produced a neat finish.
