Arsenal limped past Red Star Belgrade 1-0 as Olivier Giroud’s stunning goal lit up an otherwise entirely forgettable Europa League encounter.
After sparkling inter-play between Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott, Giroud executed an overhead kick 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.
Starting 30 yards from goal, Wilshere burst past two men before feeding Walcott and flicking a brilliant return to the winger, who nodded across the six-yard box, where Giroud turned and picked out the top corner over his shoulder, providing a satisfying aftertaste to another otherwise bland display, a trip to another out-of-sorts side, Everton, on Sunday will require greater gumption.