Match ends, Crvena Zvezda 0, Arsenal 1.
Red Star BelgradeRed Star Belgrade0ArsenalArsenal1
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger said his side showed their character as they continued their perfect start to the Europa League with a 1-0 victory at 10-man Crvena Zvezda in Serbia.
Olivier Giroud's spectacular overhead kick late on made it three wins from three for Arsenal in Group H.
They are top of the standings, five points ahead of BATE Borisov.
"I think what is remarkable is the spirit that we have shown and fighting together," said Wenger.
"We didn't give up and wanted absolutely to score."
Arsenal give ideal response to Deeney dig
The character of Arsenal's players was questioned when they let slip a lead to lose 2-1 at Watford on Saturday, with Hornets striker Troy Deeney saying the Gunners lacked "cojones".
Wenger admitted prior to the game the comment hit a nerve, but backed his players to respond with a strong performance in Serbia.
There are few stadiums more intimidating than the Marakana, home of Crvena Zvezda, commonly known as Red Star Belgrade.
The feverish atmosphere produced by the 50,000-plus home fans promised to test Arsenal's character to the full.
It would have been easy for the visitors to wilt but they kept their nerve to produce a professional away performance.
It was far from a comfortable win, however, with goalkeeper Petr Cech making two good saves, first denying Nemanja Radonjic at close range before keeping out Nenad Krsticic's header.
Wenger said: "It was a very difficult game with high intensity in a very heated and supportive atmosphere for the local team and we kept going and trying to win. So did they in fairness.
"We played against a good team who were always dangerous on the counter-attack."
Wilshere makes his case again
As he has done previously in this competition, Wenger gave a number of the club's youngsters a chance to impress, but it was one of the Gunners' elder statesmen who was hoping to catch the Arsenal manager's eye.
England midfielder Jack Wilshere, who is trying to rediscover his best form after a series of injuries, made his third start of the campaign.
He is yet to play a minute of Premier League football this season but has impressed in the Europa League and Carabao Cup.
And another convincing display on Thursday must surely push him to the front of Wenger's mind before Sunday's Premier League game at Everton.
Wilshere often had little room to manoeuvre but he remained a lively presence and on the few occasions Arsenal did attack, he was involved.
It was therefore no surprise he was the architect of their breakthrough. The midfielder lost his marker with a pirouette on the edge of the area before clipping the ball to Theo Walcott, who headed across goal for Giroud.
"He will get a chance in the Premier League," said Wenger.
"I think at the moment it's going like that. He got a big kick in the first half on his ankle but he managed to get through the 90 minutes and games of that intensity will, of course, help him a lot."
Man of the match - Jack Wilshere
A first since 2015 for Arsenal - the stats
- Arsenal have won their past four Europa League/Uefa Cup away games, after losing five of the previous six (D1).
- The Gunners kept their first clean sheet away from home in European competition since beating Olympiakos 3-0 in December 2015.
- Crvena Zvezda have lost seven times in their past 11 home games in the Europa League/Uefa Cup (W2 D2).
- Arsenal are only the second English side to win at Crvena Zvezda in European competition (D2 L5). Bolton won there in December 2007 in the Uefa Cup.
- Walcott has been directly involved in four goals in his past four European appearances for Arsenal (three goals, one assist).
- Walcott's assist was his 11th for Giroud in all competitions; only Mesut Ozil has provided more assists for the Frenchman (15).
What next?
Arsenal will look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they travel to Everton on Sunday (13:30 BST).
Their next Europa League group game is on Thursday, 2 November, when they welcome Crvena Zvezda to Emirates Stadium (20:05 BST).
Line-ups
Red Star Belgrade
Formation 4-5-1
- 82BorjanBooked at 86mins
- 30Stojkovic
- 90SavicSubstituted forBabicat 66'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 4Le TallecBooked at 63mins
- 23RodicBooked at 80mins
- 55SrnicSubstituted forGobeljicat 83'minutes
- 8Kanga
- 20Donald
- 7Krsticic
- 49Radonjic
- 14BoakyeBooked at 60minsSubstituted forPesicat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 6Racic
- 10Milijas
- 11Adzic
- 15Babic
- 27Supic
- 45Pesic
- 77Gobeljic
Arsenal
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 33Cech
- 2Debuchy
- 35Elneny
- 16Holding
- 61NelsonBooked at 90mins
- 34CoquelinBooked at 64minsSubstituted forSheafat 89'minutes
- 69WillockSubstituted forMcGuaneat 89'minutes
- 30Maitland-Niles
- 14Walcott
- 10Wilshere
- 12Giroud
Substitutes
- 3Osei-Tutu
- 32Akpom
- 43Da Silva
- 54Macey
- 58McGuane
- 62Nketiah
- 65Sheaf
- Referee:
- Benoit Bastien
- Attendance:
- 50,327
Match Stats
Home TeamRed Star BelgradeAway TeamArsenal
- Possession
- Home39%
- Away61%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home5
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crvena Zvezda 0, Arsenal 1.
Post update
Foul by Reiss Nelson (Arsenal).
Post update
Guélor Kanga (Crvena Zvezda) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Booking
Reiss Nelson (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Reiss Nelson (Arsenal).
Post update
Guélor Kanga (Crvena Zvezda) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Booking
Srdjan Babic (Crvena Zvezda) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Srdjan Babic (Crvena Zvezda).
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Ben Sheaf replaces Francis Coquelin because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Marcus McGuane replaces Joe Willock.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Francis Coquelin (Arsenal) because of an injury.
Post update
Attempt missed. Guélor Kanga (Crvena Zvezda) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Aleksandar Pesic.
Booking
Milan Borjan (Crvena Zvezda) is shown the yellow card.
Goal!
Goal! Crvena Zvezda 0, Arsenal 1. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Theo Walcott with a headed pass.
Substitution
Substitution, Crvena Zvezda. Marko Gobeljic replaces Slavoljub Srnic.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Francis Coquelin (Arsenal) because of an injury.
Comments
Join the conversation
Wenger out down vote
Just remember though, it's only a diddy cup and doesn't count
Unless Man U win it of course
After watching a tedious Man U last night win with a fluke goalkeeping mistake it's refreshing to see quality when I watch Arsenal are on the box
Chelsea Roma was excellent too as a spectacle
Coming from the supporter of a team who lost to Gent last season. This pub team have won the European Cup too unlike your '2 league cups in 26 years' mob.
Pretty sure you were one of the Spuds whining about Arsenal fans trolling on every HYS about your club.....then no sonner has the ref blown his whistle, you’re doing exactly the same on an Arsenal HYS.
Sums up you Spuds, you’ve got the best team that you’ve had for decades and you’re still obswith Arsenal.
Dele Ali.
Err Ever - Fairs Cup and Cup Winners Cup for example
Now when was the last time you lot won The First Division let alone the EPL?
When one of you managers win half as much as Wenger come back and try again
“ and it’s Henry to Norman, and on to Jones. Splendid run from Jones, he passes to Blanchflower, he beats one man, beats another, and lays the ball to Mackay. Oh I say what a jolly good goal”
We interrupt this game for a newsflash “ apparently the Berlin Wall has just been built “
We played a decent away game in a hostile atmosphere with a load of youngsters (English too) and players working back into form and the goal was a beauty. Well done boys and boss.