Red Star Belgrade 0-1 Arsenal: Olivier Giroud's stunning overhead wins it late for Arsene Wenger's side in Serbia after Milan Rodic is sent off for hosts

  • Arsenal continued their perfect start to the Europa League with a dramatic win over Red Star Belgrade  
  • Red Star's Richmond Boakye hit the woodwork in the first half, while Petr Cech made some smart saves
  • Left back Milan Rodic was sent off 10 minutes from time in Belgrade after committing two bookable offences 
  • Olivier Giroud hooked ball home on 85 minutes after neat build-up play by Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott 
  • The win in Belgrade means Arsenal remain top of Group H, having taken maximum points from three matches
  • AS IT HAPPENED: Relive Arsenal's smash-and-grab victory in Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday 

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The jury remains out on the first string but it would be awfully hard for Troy Deeney to criticise the 'cojones' of the back-up boys. Grubby wins in angry arenas are not achieved by the weak.

And make no mistake, this was a dog fight of a match, the sort of game in the sort of place where Arsenal teams are meant to stumble, let alone sides built on the young, recovering and marginalised.

But out of the Serbian furnace came some Arsenal fire, with this maligned club coming up with the fighting spirit needed to maintain their 100 per cent record in Group H. 


Olivier Giroud's acrobatic goal won the game for Arsenal on 85 minutes after neat build-up by Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott

The France and Arsenal forward hooked the ball over his shoulder and into the net with only five minutes remaining in Serbia

The France and Arsenal forward hooked the ball over his shoulder and into the net with only five minutes remaining in Serbia

French striker Giroud runs to the corner flag to celebrate his stunning strike as Walcott joins in to congratulate him

French striker Giroud runs to the corner flag to celebrate his stunning strike as Walcott joins in to congratulate him

The Arsenal players celebrate in front of the travelling supporters after securing a hard-fought victory on Thursday night

Red Star's Milan Rodic was sent off 10 minutes from time after two bookable offences in the Europa League meeting

Red Star's Milan Rodic was sent off 10 minutes from time after two bookable offences in the Europa League meeting

Wilshere, yet to get so much as a minute in the Premier League this term, gives his fans the thumbs up at the full-time whistle

Wilshere, yet to get so much as a minute in the Premier League this term, gives his fans the thumbs up at the full-time whistle

The Arsenal players, including captain Petr Cech (right), applaud the visiting supporters following their narrow European win

The Arsenal players, including captain Petr Cech (right), applaud the visiting supporters following their narrow European win

MATCH RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE FROM BELGRADE 

Red Star Belgrade (4-2-3-1): Borjan 7; Stojkovic 6, Le Tallec 6.5, Savic 6 (Babic 66, 6), Rodic 6; Kriszicic 6.5, Donald 6.5; Srnic 6 (Gobeljic 83), Kanga 6, Radonjic 7; Boakye 6.5 (Pesic 80)

Subs not used: Adzic, Milijas, Racic, Supic

Yellow cards: Boakye 60, Le Tallec 63, Borjan 86, Babic 90

Red cards: Rodic 80 

Manager: Vladan Milojevic

Arsenal (3-4-3): Cech 7; Debuchy 6, Elneny 6.5, Holding 6.5; Nelson 7, Coquelin 5 (Sheaf 90), Willock 6.5 (McGuane 89), Maitland-Niles 5.5; Walcott 5, Wilshere 7.5; Giroud 6.5 

Subs not used: Akpom, Dasilva, Macey, Nketiah, Osei-Tutu

Goals: Giroud 85

Yellow cards: Coquelin 65, Nelson 90

Manager: Arsene Wenger 

Referee: Benoit Bastien (France) 7 

A look at Olivier Giroud's late winner. You can see more statistics and information at Sportsmail's brilliant MATCH ZONE here

A look at Olivier Giroud's late winner. You can see more statistics and information at Sportsmail's brilliant MATCH ZONE here

 

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The goal that did it was exceptional, a thing of beauty in a game that really didn't deserve it, delivered by a player in Olivier Giroud who looked the least likely to pull it off on the night. He was struggling horribly, guilty of poor touches, pointless runs and one finish in the second half that was so bad people started laughing en masse.

But then, with 85 minutes gone and Red Star down to 10 men, he arched his back and met a header from Theo Walcott, blasting the winner with an overhead kick. Stunning, absurd, brilliant, turning a decent result into a good one for a side that barely resembled anything Arsene Wenger might use in the Premier League.

In light of Deeney's graphic observations that they lacked guts, among other things, against Watford last weekend, maybe that was no bad thing. But in any case, they delivered and are now within a whisker of the knockout stages.

Wenger claimed vindication and while there was more than a whiff of truth to what Deeney had said, this was a night to give Arsenal's manager his due.

He said: 'In the end we got a win that gives credit to the mentality of the team. Overall the spirit we showed was remarkable, fighting together. They defended very well, with a lot of determination. But the goal was the consequence of us wanting to play through them.'

It was also the product of Giroud's self-confidence after such a torrid performance. Wenger said: 'At some stage he came to the touchline and told me: "We will score". He knew more than I did. That's Olivier Giroud. He keeps belief when it is tough. That's why he scores at moments you don't expect him to score.'

This was a particularly scrappy victory for Arsene Wenger's side at a particularly noisy arena, the Rajko Mitic Stadium

This was a particularly scrappy victory for Arsene Wenger's side at a particularly noisy arena, the Rajko Mitic Stadium

Arsenal defender Rob Holding slides to block the path of the advancing Richmond Boakye during the Europa League clash

Arsenal defender Rob Holding slides to block the path of the advancing Richmond Boakye during the Europa League clash

Twenty-year-old starlet Ainsley Maitland-Niles was one of a number of youngsters handed a start by Arsene Wenger in Serbia

Twenty-year-old starlet Ainsley Maitland-Niles was one of a number of youngsters handed a start by Arsene Wenger in Serbia

Wenger, who saw his team suffer an embarrassing defeat at Watford in their last outing, reacts to a decision on Thursday night

Wenger, who saw his team suffer an embarrassing defeat at Watford in their last outing, reacts to a decision on Thursday night

More predictable was Wenger's desire to make wholesale changes to his side, despite the challenge facing them in Serbia. Red Star are distant relations of the force they once were, but their ground still generates one of the fiercest atmospheres in Europe. 

Here, that extended to furious booing for any Arsenal employee, up to and including medical staff. There was also a crowd mosaic of an Arsenal cannon being grabbed by a giant fist.

But Wenger knew the heat was coming and still made nine changes to the side that rolled over at Watford, with only Petr Cech and Mohamed Elneny retained and the latter repurposed as a centre-half next to Mathieu Debuchy, who was given his first start in 326 days. A vulnerable defence? Occasionally it would look that way.

There was also a place for Jack Wilshere, as has become standard in Arsenal's lower-priority competitions. He is yet to get so much as a minute in the Premier League this season, which must now change. Surely.

His man-of-the-match performances against BATE Borisov and in the win over Doncaster in the Carabao Cup had to be afforded some perspective because of the opposition. But he was the star man again here, that little whirlwind of movement and personality who Arsenal and England have desperately missed.

Wenger said: 'He will get a chance in the Premier League don't worry about that. Games of that intensity will help him a lot.' 

Giroud, who led the line for the Gunners in the Serbian capital, is challenged by Montenegro right back Filip Stojkovic

Giroud, who led the line for the Gunners in the Serbian capital, is challenged by Montenegro right back Filip Stojkovic

England international Wilshere battles for possession with midfielder Slavoljub Srnic during the clash on Thursday night

England international Wilshere battles for possession with midfielder Slavoljub Srnic during the clash on Thursday night

Arsenal youngster Reiss Nelson, handed a rare start in Belgrade, slides in to challenge Red Star midfielder Nemanja Radonjic

Arsenal youngster Reiss Nelson, handed a rare start in Belgrade, slides in to challenge Red Star midfielder Nemanja Radonjic

Maitland-Niles attempts to hold off Red Star and Gabon midfielder Guelor Kanga in the first half of the Europa League clash

Maitland-Niles attempts to hold off Red Star and Gabon midfielder Guelor Kanga in the first half of the Europa League clash

In the first half, almost any attack of note from Arsenal came through Wilshere, with the midfielder creating marginal openings for Walcott and Giroud in the first 10 minutes.

He then played a part in the move that presented Walcott with Arsenal's best chance of the half, only for the forward to scuff his finish.

Red Star responded with intent. Richmond Boakye, who has been monitored by Chelsea, hit the bar with a header and Cech made an excellent save around the half hour mark to stop Nemanja Radonjic. The marking on both chances was weak, but getting through the first 45 minutes unpunished was a moderate success in the environment.

The second was fading into a battle with no worthy flashes, barring Giroud's scoop over the bar from no distance at all and the runs from the increasingly impressive 17-year-old Reiss Nelson. 

But then, crucially, Red Star went down to 10 men when Milan Rodic was dismissed for a second yellow and Giroud had his moment, made by the combination of Wilshere and Walcott.

It was a great finish. It took cajones just to try it. 

Wilshere, making his sixth appearance of the season, challenges Srnic during the goalless first half at the Rajko Mitic Stadium

Wilshere, making his sixth appearance of the season, challenges Srnic during the goalless first half at the Rajko Mitic Stadium

Kanga is put under pressure by Arsenal youngster Joseph Willock (centre) and Mohamed Elneny (right) in Thursday's clash

Kanga is put under pressure by Arsenal youngster Joseph Willock (centre) and Mohamed Elneny (right) in Thursday's clash

Montenegro international Stojkovic cries in pain after being tackled by Arsenal's holding midfielder Francis Coquelin 

Montenegro international Stojkovic cries in pain after being tackled by Arsenal's holding midfielder Francis Coquelin 

Wilshere fires a free-kick towards the Red Star penalty box. The midfielder was playing his third European game of the season

Wilshere fires a free-kick towards the Red Star penalty box. The midfielder was playing his third European game of the season

Vujadin Savic is sent flying following a challenge by Giroud, who won the game in the face of a hostile atmosphere in Serbia

Vujadin Savic is sent flying following a challenge by Giroud, who won the game in the face of a hostile atmosphere in Serbia

Mathieu Debuchy, making his first appearance of the season, slides in to challenge Boakye during the second half

Mathieu Debuchy, making his first appearance of the season, slides in to challenge Boakye during the second half