Paul Merson has labelled Arsenal "tactically clueless" after his former club surrendered a three-goal lead against Anderlecht last night.
The Gunners were on the brink of sealing their passage to the last 16 of the Champions League, with goals from Mikel Arteta, Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain helping them into a healthy lead with 32 minutes remaining.
However, Arsene Wenger's side capitulated at the Emirates Stadium as Anthony Vanden Borre struck twice, before Aleksandar Mitrovic headed home a stoppage-time equaliser.
"If I'm being honest, I think they're tactically clueless," Merson told Sky Sports News. "It is absolutely clueless. That's an honest opinion. How you can be 3-0 up and be attacking... this is not the first time ...this happens a lot. For me, the manager has got to get a message on.
"You're playing with international footballers, these are not little kids. These [players] have played for their country lots of times, they have played in World Cups, they played in a lot of Premier League games.
"They are all bombing forward... surely something in your head... if you know football, you say 'right, let's stop here, let's have two banks of four, leave two up front and we'll go from there. Let them break us down'. For me, it is clueless. It is absolutely clueless, as football knowledge."
Arsenal remain likely to reach the knockout stages as Wenger's side sit second in Group D, five points clear of the third-placed Belgians with only two games remaining.
Shane Callaghan
