Giroud’s spectacular overhead kick maintains Arsenal’s perfect start

Olivier Giroud score da stunning winner as a muchchanged Arsenal side saw off ten- man Red Star Belgrade.

The 1-0 win maintains Arsenal’s perfect start to their Europa League campaign as they move closer to qualifying for the round of 32.

Red Star hit the post in the first half and kept visiting goal keeper Petr Cech busy. The hosts were incensed to lose Milan Rodic to a red card in the closing stages.

Having made a host of changes, Arsene Wenger saw his experienced campaigners showing their class.

Cech made a number of key saves before Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere and Giroud, right, combined for the only goal of the contest.

After a slow star t for both sides, RedStar goal keeper Milan Borjan did superbly to keep out Walcott’s effort on 15 minutes, saving with his feet.

Red Star skipper Mitchell Donald arrowed a shot wide of Cech’s goal with the hosts’ first opening of the game.

Striker Richmond Boakye headed against the post when free in front of goal as Arse - nal failed to deal with Nenad Krsticic’s corner.

The visitors seemed rattled and Reiss Nelson allowed Nemanja Radonjic to collect the ball from a cross, forcing a low save from Cech before Nelson recovered to block Radonjic’s second attempt from the rebound.

Arsenalshould have taken the lead soon after the inter val. Teenager Joe Willock did well to break into the box and feed Walcott, whose drilled strike flew towards Giroud, but the Frenchman prodded at the ball when unmarked seven yards from goal. Nelson was next to make in roads but from his pass to Walcott, the forward miskicked altogether, the young wingback then stinging the palms of Borjan with his own strike.

Elneny then gifted possession to Radonjic and he too forced Cech into action with a well- struck effort.

Withneither side able to find a breakthrough, Red Star were reduced to ten men when Rodic was shown asecond yellow card with just under ten minutes remainingfor catching Coquelin with a stray arm.

It took Arsenal hardly anytime to make their numerical advantage pay off as Wilshere and Walcott exchangedpasses before the latter headed the ball across for Giroud to finish in spectacular style with an overhead kickto secure the win.