Gunners below best —Mertesacker

VICE-CAPTAIN Per Mertesacker accepts Arsenal are still misfiring despite pulling off a dramatic late 2-1 win over Anderlecht in Brussels to stay on course for the Champions League knockout stage.

The Gunners got away with a below-par display at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, where a second-half header from Andy Najar looked to have put the Belgians on course for a famous win to ruin managerArseneWenger’s 65th birthday.

However, just as they did in rescuing a point at home to Hull with a stoppage-time equaliser in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday, Arsenal struck late as first left-back Kieran Gibbs volleyed in a superb finish in the 89th minute and then substitute Lukas Podolski crashed in a dramatic winner.

Arsenal face a return tie against Anderlecht at the Emirates Stadium next month, before hosting Group D leaders Borussia Dortmund.

“Everyone knows that it was a difficult start for us and our confidence is not that much how we wanted it,” the German defender said.

“The character is good, the mentality is good, but football-wise, we lack a few things. Ourpassinggameis not as efficient as last year. We are not at our best. We have to admit that, be honest with ourselves and train harder.”

“Personally it is difficult at the moment because that was really a long season last year.”