Arsenal overcame BATE Borisov in an entertaining Europa League encounter on Thursday as Olivier Giroud scored his 100th goal for the club.
Theo Walcott and Rob Holding, helped by a lively Jack Wilshere, put the visitors into a commanding lead before the break only for the Belarusians to twice peg the Gunners back.
Arsene Wenger kept faith with his second string, and a sprinkling of academy stars, as they maintained their 100 per cent start to Group H.
James Olley was in Belarus to assess the key talking points...
Wilshere demonstrates his class
Arsene Wenger’s rotation policy combined with injuries to Alex Iwobi and Danny Welbeck created a rare opportunity for Wilshere to play as one of the two advanced midfielders in Arsenal’s 3-4-2-1 system. On only his third outing of the season, he seized it with both hands.
BATE’s defending was dreadful but the Gunners still had to put the game to bed and Wilshere was at the heart of everything going forward. Silky combination play on the edge of the box, clever movement and incisive passing – this was Wilshere at his most effective.
The 25-year-old has less than a year to run on his existing contract and is playing for his Arsenal future. The ultimate test for Wilshere is to stay fit and maintain his form on a consistent basis – and against better opposition – but it surely won’t take many more performances like this for the Gunners to offer him a new deal. Come January 1, there may well be a few other suitors too.
Giroud reaches a landmark
Giroud has been dogged throughout his career by questions over whether he is good enough to be considered alongside the Premier League’s finest strikers but tonight he reached a landmark to help answer his critics.
The circumstances were inauspicious – the visitors’ final goal, converting a penalty barely anyone appealed for – but in doing so Giroud became the 19th player to score 100 goals for Arsenal.
Giroud turned down the chance to leave this summer to fight with Alexandre Lacazette to play as Arsenal’s central striker and although that battle is far from won, his achievement in Belarus is a timely reminder of his longevity after five years at the club and counting.
Walcott stakes his claim
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Walcott is further down the pecking order than Giroud these days but a brace in Borisov was a decent return, especially given the goals came in the opening 22 minutes to establish firm control of the game.
He hit the post and flashed another shot just wide, frequently taking up dangerous position and linking well with Wilshere in particular. It was something of a surprise that Danny Welbeck started every Premier League game prior to his groin injury – although Alexis Sanchez’s delayed return to full fitness was a factor – but his loss could be Walcott’s gain.
Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are first-choice when fit but Walcott will view the Europa League as a chance to stake his claim. This was a useful step in that aim.
Arsenal’s defending remains a cause for concern
The gulf in class was obvious from the outset, even accounting for the wholesale changes Wenger made to his starting line-up.
They raced into a 3-0 lead and should have been comfortable but a goal from Mirko Ivanic kept BATE interested and even when moving 4-1 up through Giroud, Arsenal looked vulnerable at the back whenever the home side could exert sufficient pressure.
Mikhail Gordeichuk’s 68th-minute strike set up what a finale much more nervous than it needed to be. The Gunners had kept three clean sheets in all competitions prior to this but there is plenty of room for improvement.
The kids are alright
Joe Willock made his debut in central midfield alongside Mohamed Elneny while Arsenal had youth in wide areas with Reiss Nelson and Ainsley Maitland-Niles deployed as wing-backs.
Maitland-Niles looked particularly threatening in the first half down the left flank but all three acquitted themselves with promise. Marcus Mcguane and Eddie Nketiah became the 847th and 848th players to represent Arsenal as late substitutes.
Wenger warned on the eve of this game that “you do not get 10 opportunities to play for Arsenal” and he will have been impressed by the way his youngsters responded. Further opportunities in this competition await.
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