Arsenal 0-2 Schalke 04

Two goals in the last 15 minutes by Schalke's Dutch duo Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Ibrahim Afellay consigned Arsenal to a 2-0 defeat.

The Gunners slip to second in Champions League Group B but should still have enough quality to reach the last 16 of the competition, although there were some very worrying signs against the impressive Bundesliga side. Arsene Wenger's side failed to trouble Lars Unnerstall in the Schalke goal until stoppage time and, as in the weekend defeat at Norwich City, looked impotent in attack. Chances were at a premium in a very tight and even opening 45 minutes at the Emirates Stadium although Schalke were unfortunate not to win a penalty in the 14th minute when Afellay went down under Vito Mannone's challenge. It looked as though it was a clear penalty but the referee booked the Schalke man for diving instead. For Arsenal, Thomas Vermaelen had a long-range shot blocked while Santiago Cazorla saw his deflected effort spin away for a corner but Wenger's side struggled to break down the third-placed Bundesliga side's well-drilled defence throughout. Both sides had spells of dominance in the first half and Schalke should have gone ahead on the stroke of half time when Atsuto Uchida's cross was turned wide by Huntelaar. Schalke started the second period well and Jefferson Farfan created a great opportunity to break the deadlock only for Benedikt Howedes to lash his shot over the bar from on the penalty spot. But they finally broke the deadlock when Huntelaar lashed a half-volley under Mannone and sealed an impressive victory with a second goal in the 86th minute when Afellay turned home Farfan's low cross.