OVERHEAD STAR BELGRADE

How’s that for cojones? Hero Giroud hits superb late winner

DAYS after having their “cojones” questioned, there was no balls-up from Arsenal’s back-ups, thanks to Olivier Giroud.

Giroud’s dramatic winner against 10-man Red Star Belgrade was not quite a repeat of his unforgettable scorpion kick against Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day.

But the Frenchman’s latest acrobatic effort to earn Arsenal a hard-fought win was no less significant.

Giroud’s spectacular overhead kick in Serbia made it three Group H wins out of three for Arsene Wenger’s men, and left them needing just one more to seal a last-32 place.

And at a time when the Gunners are under fire, it provided the perfect response to Watford captain Troy Deeney’s stinging criticism of Arsenal’s character. The battling nature of the mix-andmatch Gunners’ display at Red Star’s hostile home was already a sign of their bottle.

But Giroud (above) sealed a fine one-touch move to turn one point into three with his piece of 85th-minute brilliance.

Wenger said: “At some stage he came to the touchline and told me, ‘We will score’. That’s Olivier Giroud. He keeps belief when it is tough. That’s why he scores at moments you didn’t expect him to score.”

Jack Wilshere was the inspiration behind Arsenal’s winner with a driving run from midfield. He is yet to play a league game this season but Wenger said: “He will get a chance in the Premier League, don’t worry for that.”

If ever there was an atmosphere to test the cojones, it was this one inside one of Europe’s most intimidating grounds.

After Arsenal completed the 300m walk from changing rooms outside the ground, through the riot-police-lined and graffiti-covered tunnel, and onto the pitch, they were greeted by deafening boos.

And that was just for the warm-up. Red Star delayed their entrance by warming up on a training pitch outside the stadium, ensuring an even louder welcome when they finally arrived.

The ground was rocking and might have been quietened had Theo Walcott taken a 15th-minute chance.

But on more than one occasion during the first half, the roof was nearly lifted off the Rajko Mitic Stadium as Red Star’s Richmond Boakye headed against the bar, before Petr Cech and Reiss Nelson combined to frustrate Slavoljub Srnic.

Giroud and Nelson had chances for Arsenal after the break, before Cech denied Filip Stojkovic and the lively Srnic.

Milan Rodic’s 80th-minute dismissal for two yellows gave Arsenal a lift and they made their advantage count.

Wilshere drove forward, combined with Walcott, before Giroud hooked his knockdown into the top corner.