A last minute equaliser for AZ Alkmaar deflated an Arsenal side that was close to achieving a workmanlike victory and a rare clean sheet. The boss was pragmatic about a draw that still leaves us in a dominant position at the half way stage in group H.

Wenger said: “You know that in the last five minutes of a Champions League match, anything can happen.

"They have thrown everything forward and I felt they could only score on a set-piece - and that is what happened.

"It is frustrating because we looked closer to scoring a second than conceding, but credit to them, they did fight well and went until the last minute.

"We are still learning. You do not need to give a free-kick away on an offside in the last minute.�

We still only need one victory to progress to the knock out stages and considering the surprising results across Europe last night, combined with Alkmaar’s impressive home record of only one defeat in thirty six games, Wenger’s measured reaction to the result is understandable.

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