Wenger’s perfect birthday present

Anderlecht 1 Arsenal 2

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 from 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 forwards, led by Cyriac, the former Charlton forward, 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 from Praet was headed in by Najar.

Former Portsmouth defender Anthony Vanden Borre then had a miskicked effort loop onto 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.

Arsenal almost got off to a flying start when Sanchez turned Frank Acheampong inside out on the right touchline before cutting the ball back into the penalty area.

However, the on-rushing Cazorla could only crash it horribly wide off his shin after the ball kicked up from the bobbly surface.

Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal, deployed again at centre-back with Calum Chambers on the right, collected an early yellow card for a bodycheck on Cyriac.

Arsenal had only managed one goal in their last four European away ties and lacked a decisive pass when in the final third.

Anderlecht were quickly on the offensive at the start of the second half, with Ibrahima Conte’s 12-yard effort deflected behind.

A deep free-kick from the left was then drifted into the Belgian’s penalty area by Cazorla, but Sanchez could not direct an effort past Silvio Proto.

Ramsey then fired wide after more good work from the busy Chilean.

Arsenal had a great chance to go ahead on 63 minutes when Gibbs played Cazorla into the left side of the penalty area, but his low, angled drive was too close to Proto, who made a smart save.

Anderlecht took the lead on 71 minutes. A quick break saw the ball worked out to Praet on the right side of the Arsenal penalty area and his cross was headed into the bottom right corner by Najar.

Wenger made a double change as Mathieu Flamini was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Joel Campbell came on for Welbeck.

It almost got worse for Arsenal when, following another swift counter, Vanden Borre saw his miskicked shot loop up onto the top of the crossbar.

Arsenal looked set to be left with plenty of questions from another disappointing result, but there was to be high drama in the closing moments.

The ball was worked out to Chambers, who floated over a deep cross towards the far post, where Gibbs arrived at pace to crash the ball back into the opposite corner.

Arsenal were not about to settle for a point, however, and poured forwards.

With Anderlecht claiming a foul in the build-up, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross was pulled back by Sanchez, and the rebound off a defender fell right at Podolski’s feet as the German gleefully crashed it home from two yards.

ANDERLECHT: Proto, Vanden Borre, Mbemba, Deschacht, Acheampong, Tielemans, Defour, Najar, Praet (Dendoncker 88), Conte, Cyriac (Suarez 83).

ARSENAL: Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Monreal, Gibbs, Flamini (Oxlade-Chamberlain 74), Sanchez, Ramsey, Wilshere (Podolski 84), Cazorla, Welbeck (Campbell 74).

Referee: Carlos Velasco Carballo (Madrid).