A decent point.

SCHALKE 2-2 ARSENAL
Walcott 18 mins, Giroud 26 mins, Huntelaar 45 mins, Farfan 67 mins
Att: 50,000

Arsenal came into this evening's match with a real task on their hands. Two weeks previously, Schalke visited the Emirates and the result was one that should have been a wake-up call for the slacking Gunners. Goals from Huntelaar and Afellay sealed the win and sent Die Königsblauen back to Germany sitting at the top of Group B, and as Arsene Wenger looked on from the stands, serious questions were asked about this seemingly below-par performance. Needless to say, after that nightmare, Arsenal fans would have been content with taking just a point from the Veltins-Arena against this breathtaking Schalke team.

After Saturday's shrug of a performance, Andre Santos was dropped, and Arsenal's defence was rotated to include three centre-halves, with Vermaelen shifting to left-back; a string of poor games for the Brazilian, compounded by his ludicrous "half-time shirt-swapping incident", condemning Santos to a relatively inexperienced substitutes bench. Further up the field, Jack Wilshere started alongside Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta, with Podolski, Giroud and Walcott up front; a 4-3-3 formation. Walcott was placed on the right-wing against his wishes, despite much of the pre-match hype claiming that he would be starting in a centre-forward role. 

And so to the match, and from the offset Schalke made clear their intentions. Indeed, it was mostly one-way traffic, with Schalke enjoying plenty of the ball and regularly advancing towards the Arsenal goal. However, in these early exchanges, all was basically well in the Arsenal defence, managing to fend off any danger with relative ease. As Arsenal struggled to find their feet, an opportunity suddenly presented itself in the form of Olivier Giroud, thanks to a Bolton-esque long ball from Per Mertesacker, sending the Frenchman through on goal, with Theo Walcott sprinting in support. Giroud dawdled on the ball, and a quite brilliant sliding challenge from Benedikt Howedes managed to dispossess him; however, THEO WALCOTT was on hand to round the goalkeeper and dink the ball into the net. A quite messy goal, not a typically "Arsenal goal", however, a precious goal, nonetheless. 

And things would only get better for the Gunners. Some Arsenal pressure was seemingly snuffed out by the Schalke defence, though Giroud retained the ball, poking it wide for Lukas Podolski to keep the attack alive. Podolski then sent in a bullet-cross which was headed home by OLIVIER GIROUD to give Arsenal an unexpected 2-0 lead. Baffled Arsenal fans watched on, as they witnessed a team playing with confidence, something which has been in short supply of late, especially for the rising-up Olivier Giroud; goals can only be positive. 

Arsenal were now coasting, all was well for Wenger. It's at times such as these that one can understand Arsenal fans frustrations. On Saturday at Old Trafford, the team seemed to display little ambition or attacking intent, and were beaten as if it were a formality. And yet, against similarly tricky opposition tonight, there were spells when Arsenal played with the kind of spirit and intent that has been missing in recent weeks. 

And yet, as quick as lightning, Schalke struck back on the cusp of half-time, KLAAS JAN-HUNTELAAR the  goalscorer, The Dutch striker latching onto a header by Lewis Holtby, burying the ball into the bottom right corner, a striker's finish.

The half-time whistle went, and both teams returned to the dressing rooms to ponder the events of the first half. On balance, Arsene Wenger will have been satisfied with his team's performance, though that familiar crushing feeling will have been ripe after conceding in the manner in which they did. 

The teams emerged for the second half, and Schalke started the half as they meant to go on. Arsenal fans were gritting their teeth, it was plain to see that Schalke were not going to lie down easily. Indeed, they enjoyed long spells of possession, stroking the ball to each other in the sort of arrogant manner which Arsenal used to master all too well with the likes of Fabregas and Alex Song. And yet, the goal would not come. As in-form Huntelaar was sent through one-on-one, Arsenal keeper Vito Mannone must have thought he was finished. Huntelaar let rip, but Mannone pulled off a fine stop, parrying the ball out for a corner. 

Sensing Arsenal's defensive weaknesses down the left-flank, Schalke decided to ambush. Jefferson Farfan, a pacy winger, rained cross after cross into the Arsenal box, but to no avail. Later on, Lewis Holtby and Afellay shot from close in, both dealt with by Mannone. Arsenal's defence was seemingly holding out, though they were not showing much intent down the opposite end of the field - Giroud was practically non-existent throughout the second half. 

However, in the 67th minute, JEFFERSON FARFAN leveled the score for Schalke, his shot deflecting in off Arsenal skipper Thomas Vermaelen. A goal that had been coming, and Arsenal were firmly on the rack. 

A blow for Arsenal, who yet again saw a two-goal lead slip away. Despite this, and quite refreshingly, Arsenal tried to get back into the game, Theo Walcott re-emerging out of the woodwork notably. However, nothing really seemed to click for Arsenal, and especially for Lukas Podolski, who has not been at his best since the international break. Both teams tired, and the game seemed to draw itself to a conclusion - before Theo Walcott was gifted with a golden opportunity two minutes into stoppage time, only to strike against goalkeeper Unnerstall. A frustrating miss, and an opportunity that could have stolen the points for the Gunners. 

Overall, the Gunners can be pleased with earning a point against a hard-to-beat Schalke team. Arsenal were taken apart at the Emirates less than two weeks ago by this side, so to take a point from away from home is decent. Next up is a home game against Fulham in the Barclays Premier League.