BATE Borisov 2-4 Arsenal: Jack Wilshere shines as Theo Walcott bags a brace and the Gunners run riot

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In a town mostly known for producing tractors, the best of Belarus were ploughed into the ground by the joy-riding young things of Arsenal last night.

It might have been easier, given they led 3-0 and 4-1 and never quite found their highest gears, but it might also have been harder, considering Arsene Wenger embarked on this 2,700-mile round trip with precious few of his big names.

A risk of getting stuck in the mud? Quite possibly with opposition that has beaten Bayern Munich and Roma on this ground in recent years. A hazard well navigated? Certainly.

Arsenal ran out 4-2 winners in their Europa League Group H showdown with BATE Borisov in Belarus on Thursday evening

Theo Walcott scored twice early on to help Arsenal fly into a two-goal lead within the first 22 minutes at the Borisov Arena

After being found in the box by Jack Wilshere, Walcott saw his header saved before he scored the rebound on nine minutes

BATE goalkeeper Denis Scherbitski holds his hands out in disappointment after the home side conceded early on in Belarus

Walcott celebrates with his team-mates having doubled their lead - he finished after Scherbitski passed it straight to him

Rob Holding looked to have put Arsenal into an unassailable lead when he put the visitors 3-0 up after only 25 minutes

Olivier Giroud restored the visitors' three-goal advantage from the spot only four minutes into the second period

MATCH DETAILS, RATINGS AND GROUP E STANDINGS 

Bate Borisov (4-2-3-1): Scherbitski 4; Rios 6, Gaiduchik 5, Milunovic 4.5, Polyakov 4 (M Volodko 23min, 6); A Volodko 5 (Baga 85), Dragun 4.5; Gordeichuk 6.5, Ivanic 7, Stasevich 5; Rodionov 5 (Signevich 54, 6) 

Subs not used: Veremko, Yablonski, Berezkin, Tuominen

Scorers: Ivanic 28, Gordeichuk 67

Booked: Dragun, Milunovic, Ivanic. 

Manager: Alyaksandr Yermakovich, 5.5

Arsenal (3-4-2-1): Ospina 7; Mustafi 6.5, Mertesacker 6.5, Holding 6.5; Nelson 7 (McGuane 79), Willock 7 (Nketiah 89), Elneny 6, Maitland-Niles 6; Walcott 7.5, Wilshere 8; Giroud 6.5

Subs not used: Macey, Akpom, Dasilva, Dragomir, Gilmour

Scorers: Walcott 9, 22, Holding 25, Giroud pen 49

Booked: None 

Manager: Arsene Wenger, 7

Referee: Daniel Stefanski (Poland) 6

Attendance: 12,000

Olivier Giroud scored his 100th goal for Arsenal last night, reaching his century in 237 games — one fewer than Robin van Persie. Giroud is the 19th Arsenal player tohit the 100-goal mark.

 

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And all delivered with a squad that included no fewer than nine players aged 20 or younger, with Reiss Nelson dumping one opponent on his face in the first half and Joe Willock playing such a merry tune on his first start that the mission to silence him included a nasty elbow in the face from Nemanja Milunovic.

But as good as the kids were, this was a night for the last crop of teenage stars touted to be kings. Theo Walcott scored twice, before further goals from Rob Holding and Olivier Giroud, though the real bright spark was Jack Wilshere. He was excellent, just as he was in the Carabao Cup win over Doncaster last week.

These are early days to judge his latest recovery, and perspective is needed in light of the opposition, but he tore BATE Borisov to ribbons here. With his contract up next summer, he is gradually playing his way back into Wenger’s affections.

Wenger said: ‘He was outstanding in the first half and he fought until the end. He is on his way back to his best and showed that here. He is 25, an age where a player normally gets to the best of his career and he has only been stopped by a series of injuries. 

Holding guides the ball into the back of the net after Walcott's corner was headed on by fellow defender Per Mertesacker

Arsenal skipper Mertesacker leaps onto Holding's back to celebrate his goal - but their three-goal lead was very short-lived

Mirko Ivanic reduced the deficit only two minutes later after Mohamed Elneny switched off and didn't track his opponent

Ivanic heads past the helpless David Ospina in the Arsenal goal to give the home side a lifeline after 28 minutes in Belarus

The attacking midfielder celebrates his goal, which looked to have brought the home side back into the game before half time

A look at Theo Walcott's opener using Sportsmail's excellent MATCH ZONE. More statistics, graphics and information can be found here .

‘I just pray he is not hampered any more by problems because he will get stronger and stronger. He has shown tonight he has not lost any football.’

It was Wilshere who made the first for Walcott on nine minutes, after a one-two with Giroud took out three defenders.

A goalkeeping calamity created the second, with Denis Scherbitski passing straight to Walcott, who lashed in his third goal in two games. Like Wilshere, he was the bright young thing once and now he is making his own loud argument for his worth.

The third was shunted in by Holding before Borisov pulled one back from Mirko Ivanic’s header. 

Giroud buried his 100th Arsenal goal with a penalty on 49 minutes after Stanislav Dragun pulled down Shkodran Mustafi.

‘I just congratulated him for a remarkable achievement,’ said Wenger. ‘When you play football the most difficult thing is to score goals and he scored 100 for us.’ 

The penalty was awarded for pulling in the box and from 12 yards Giroud made no mistake, netting his 100th goal for the club

BATE Borisov responded again shortly after the hour mark, however, as forward Mikhail Gordeichuk scored their second

The 27-year-old smashes the ball home from close range after Ospina had made a point-blank save from Ivanic on 67 minutes

Wilshere was outstanding for the Gunners during the first half and played a crucial role in Walcott's opening goal

Walcott, who passed up the opportunity of a third, added: ‘There was a chance for me to take the penalty for a hat-trick but knowing Olivier was on 99 goals, it was a great opportunity for him so that’s why he took the penalty.’

Mikhail Gordeichuk swiped in midway through the second half and it all got a bit edgy. Good chances followed for Borisov to make this even more awkward but no goals came for a side that has won the Belarus top flight 11 seasons in a row.

Hardly a case of Wenger’s side clinging on, but vulnerable at the same time. Classic Arsenal, whatever the team sheet said. 

Giroud attempts to hold off the attention of BATE defender Nemanja Milunovic during the Europa League clash in Belarus

Reiss Nelson was handed a rare start for Arsene Wenger's side on Thursday - here the forward battles with Maksim Volodko

Wilshere enjoyed some more much-needed game time as he continues to build up match fitness after terrible injury problems

Elneny pleads with one of his team-mates to come towards him - the central midfielder played the full 90 minutes for Arsenal

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi winces in pain during the Europa League clash but he recovered and continued playing