A PIECE OF 85th-minute magic, finished off by a glorious hooked volley from Olivier Giroud, gave Arsenal a 1 – 0 victory over Crvena Zvezda in their Europa League Group H meeting in Belgrade this evening.
After sparkling inter-play between Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott, Giroud executed an unorthodox finish into the top corner five minutes from time to lift returning pressure from Arsene Wenger.
The weekend’s defeat to Watford, after which the Hornets captain Troy Deeney claimed the Gunners lacked “cojones”, reopened some Arsenal fans’ frustrations with Wenger and the players – and this performance did little to help.
Wenger reverted to the patchwork approach he has taken to European team selections this season, Mathieu Debuchy playing for the first time in nearly a year, while Mohamed Elneny featured alongside the Frenchman in a back three and Reiss Nelson, scorer of six goals in five Under-23 games this season, was deployed at wing-back.
Darko Vojinovic
Darko Vojinovic
The result was a stunted performance in attack, until Red Star defender Rodic was dismissed in the 80th minute and the Premier League side’s three most senior players linked up to brilliant effect at Rajko Mitic Stadium. Progression from Group H now looks a certainty, with the Gunners sat five points clear in first place after three wins from as many matches.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
8 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Utterly sublime late Giroud goal gives Arsenal win in Belgrade
Whoops!
We couldn't find this Tweet
Click here if you can’t see above video.
A PIECE OF 85th-minute magic, finished off by a glorious hooked volley from Olivier Giroud, gave Arsenal a 1 – 0 victory over Crvena Zvezda in their Europa League Group H meeting in Belgrade this evening.
After sparkling inter-play between Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott, Giroud executed an unorthodox finish into the top corner five minutes from time to lift returning pressure from Arsene Wenger.
The weekend’s defeat to Watford, after which the Hornets captain Troy Deeney claimed the Gunners lacked “cojones”, reopened some Arsenal fans’ frustrations with Wenger and the players – and this performance did little to help.
Wenger reverted to the patchwork approach he has taken to European team selections this season, Mathieu Debuchy playing for the first time in nearly a year, while Mohamed Elneny featured alongside the Frenchman in a back three and Reiss Nelson, scorer of six goals in five Under-23 games this season, was deployed at wing-back.
The result was a stunted performance in attack, until Red Star defender Rodic was dismissed in the 80th minute and the Premier League side’s three most senior players linked up to brilliant effect at Rajko Mitic Stadium. Progression from Group H now looks a certainty, with the Gunners sat five points clear in first place after three wins from as many matches.
Subscribe to The42 podcasts here:
Carlo Ancelotti unlikely to take Leicester job, accoring to his former assistant
‘It’s not always easy working with Mourinho…’: Matic gushes about his favourite boss
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Europa League Olivier Giroud