Anderlecht 1-2 Arsenal: Birthday gift for Wenger

Lukas Podolski netted a dramatic late winner as Arsenal came from behind with two goals in the final two minutes to beat Anderlecht 2-1 and hand manager Arsene Wenger a 65th birthday to remember at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium.

Lukas Podolski climbed off the bench to score dramatic winner. Picture: Getty

Scorers: Anderlecht - Najar (71); Arsenal - Gibbs (89), Podolski (90)

It had looked like the Gunners were set for a second away defeat in Champions League Group D after the Belgians went ahead through Andy Najar on 71 minutes.

However, just as time was running out, England full-back Kieran Gibbs cracked in a superb volleyed equaliser, before German forward Podolski swept home a dramatic winner.

Arsenal had started brightly, but Santi Cazorla blasted an early chance horribly wide after good work by Alexis Sanchez.

Anderlecht had a point to prove having been undone 3-0 at home by the Group D leaders Borussia Dortmund last time out and were dangerous going forward, led by Cyriac, the former Charlton man, and the industry of Dennis Praet, who once had a trial at Arsenal as a teenager.

The Gunners had plenty of possession in the Anderlecht half, but rarely looked like breaking down the home defence during a tepid first half.

Sanchez saw a close-range flick saved after a floated free kick into the Anderlecht penalty area as Arsenal showed some signs of life, with Aaron Ramsey then shooting just wide.

Arsenal’s clearest opening of the night came on 63 minutes when Cazorla was played clear down the left, but his angled drive was saved by Silvio Proto.

It proved a costly miss as Anderlecht took the lead on 71 minutes when a floated cross by Praet was headed into the net by Najar.

Former Portsmouth defender Anthony Vanden Borre had a miskicked effort loop on to the top of the crossbar.

Martinez saved from Steven Defour, but Arsenal rallied after Gibbs smashed home a deep cross by right-back Calum Chambers before Podolski won it in the most dramatic of 
finishes.

Anderlecht: Proto, Borre, Mangulu, Deschacht, Acheampong, Tielemans, Defour, Najar, Praet (Dendoncker 88), Conte, Cyriac (Suárez 83).

Arsenal: Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Ramsey, Flamini (Oxlade-Chamberlain 75), Wilshere (Podolski 84), Sanchez, Welbeck (Campbell 75), Cazorla.

Referee: C Velasco Carballo.

Attendance: 25,000