Whisper it quietly, but Thursday night football is quickly becoming quite a tonic for Arsenal. A tricky expedition on a very atmospheric night was turned into another three points in the Europa League group stages, along with valuable experience for young players and a response to those who believe there is no character in Arsene Wenger’s side following their defeat at Watford over the weekend.
This was a game that was as intense as the atmosphere demanded, thanks to the feverish acoustics at Red Star, whose 50,000 fans made for an atmosphere, that is not normally associated with this competition. From the very start, both teams went freely at each other, Arsenal’s experimental line-up making for football that was as entertaining as it had promised.
Donald deliberately handed the ball to prevent Willock from getting through with just five minutes on the clock, but it was Red Star who were on the move after four minutes of howling from the 50,000 home fans who did not enjoy the visitors having the ball. Milan Rodic, sent through by Slavoljub Srnic just a few seconds earlier, was crowded out by the Arsenal defence before a counter-attack ended with a fluffed final pass from Jack Wilshere.
The delivery of Red Star’s first corner meant that nothing came from it but they were here to play and Rob Holding was caught out by a long ball, and Richmond Boakye managed to leave him on his backside, although he rushed his cutback. About a minute later, Oliver Giroud was clattered in a good position 30 yards out and Jack Wilshere’s chip from the resulting free-kick led to an almighty scramble that was ended by a rasping drive that Theo Walcott put towards goal. However Borjan kept it out with his feet, and the ball eventually found its way to safety.
Less than 20 minutes had gone but this game was already full pelt, with Boakye now away from Holding again, although when he found Kanga the midfielder didn’t have the final product. Two minutes he was bothering Ainsley Maitland-Niles, but once again the shot rolled wide, Srnic unable to get a proper touch to the ball.
Arsenal were under pressure and Petr Cech did well to firstly punch a cross away before the ball was whipped back into the area and Boakye hit the post with his header. Boakye looked on a mission to engineer a lead entirely on his own and he found Srnic with a fine pass, and Srnic’s excellent cross ended with Radonjic forcing Cech into a fine save; The rebound was blocked by Nelson.
Theo Walcott’s suspected injury meant a lull in the game at the right time for Arsenal, who would have the last decent chance of the half thanks to a free kick in a dangerous position.
Red Star started the second half much like they had started the first. Kanga was the latest person to find Srnic, and the challenge that Maitland-Niles put in to stop him was one of the best defensive efforts of the night. There was an instant reply from Arsenal in similar fashion, who could have taken the lead when the ball found its way to Oliver Giroud, but the Frenchman was taken aback and his effort looped safely into the arms of Borjan. Mathieu Debuchy was beaten to a fine cross by Nenad Krsticic but he could not direct the ball either side of Petr Cech.
Mohamed Elneny put Cech in some trouble when playing a poor back pass that went straight to Rodonjic, but he saved well and turned the winger’s shot over the bar. There was no let up in intensity still although Reiss Nelson could only find the wall with his free-kick there.
The next twenty minutes would lack the accuracy and focus of the game so far, with Boakye haring after a range of passes and the home fans bouncing through every second. Then Milan Rodic leapt into an aerial challenge that caught Francis Coquelin square in the face, and whilst the Frenchman needed treatment to his face, Rodic was dismissed by virtue of a second yellow card.
Two minutes later, Jack Wilshere began to motor and went past two players, finding Theo Walcott and playing a 1-2 with the winger. Walcott managed to head the ball into the path of Oliver Giroud, who managed to fold his body into the most awkward of positions and apply a deft touch to send the ball looping into the net behind a delivering Borjan, who could only look behind in disbelief.
The finish from Giroud 😳
What a goal from Arsenal 👏
Arsenal had to see out the last 10 minutes, and Red Star pushed hard with Nelson – otherwise excellent – conceding a free kick in a dangerous area. But Cech, another to have a good night for the visitors, was on hand to once again claim the cross, and send Arsenal home with three points from the trickiest of assignments.
