Vitoria 1-1 Arsenal – Arsenal give up yet another winning lead

Arsenal blows yet another winning lead on a rainy afternoon in Portugal.

There is a serious sense of deja vu here with Arsenal but the truth is, I am not surprised.

Shkodran Mustafi put Arsenal into the lead in the 80th minute with a nicely taken header, a feat that will no doubt boost his shattered confidence but as per usual, the lads threw it away.

The game was a bit of a dull affair but the conditions were hardly ideal and Arsenal was efficient for the most part.

Vitoria started off brightly and came close with a couple of long shots but Arsenal weathered the storm and gradually got themselves back into the match.

I was slightly surprised by the lack of urgency from the Portuguese, this was a game they had to win.

There are some negatives, no more than the inability to hang on to a lead and while this will not increase the pressure on Unai Emery, it will not relieve it either.

In fact, by the end of the game Arsenal were lucky to get away with the draw. Vitoria came very close to grabbing a late winner and only have themselves to blame for not putting in more effort earlier on.

The truth of the matter is the feeling from this result is more resignation than disappointment. One does get used to seeing your team give up leads.

Next for Emery and his men is the game against Leicester City and while they will get away with this result they will not if the same happens against the Foxes.