Arsenal keep piling plenty of bodies forward as they desperately try to find a late, late winner. Wilshere and Nketiah link up well before the latter chips a cross over to the far post, but the pass is slightly overhit by the youngster and fails to pick out a team-mate. That should be that.
90' +2
Maitland-Niles charges down the right flank and fires a looping cross deep into the Red Star box. Nketiah does well to nod the ball down before Giroud knocks it back to Coquelin, who quickly shoots from 25 yards out but sends a poorly hit strike nearer to the corner flag than the goal.
90'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be four minutes of added time.
89'
A. Pešić enters the game and replaces N. Radonjić.
The visitors have made another switch, with Aleksandar Pesic coming on to take the place of Radonjic.
88'
Maitland-Niles twists and turns over on the left flank, but he isn't able to get a cross away and has to settle for a corner instead. It's whipped in by Walcott and curls towards the far post, where Holding rises high but can't make decent contact with the ball in front of goal.
86'
U. Račić enters the game and replaces S. Srnić.
Red Star have made a late alteration, with Srnic making way for Uros Racic.
84'
Nketiah does well to dance his way into the Red Star penalty area before holding the ball up near the byline. He then chips a cross over to the far post, but it's slightly overhit and fails to pick out a red and white shirt in front of goal.
82'
Huge let off for Arsenal! Debuchy goes down off the ball, allowing Boakye to easily skip into the left-hand side of the home side's penalty area and get a shot away. He can't hit the target though, and his thumping strike flies straight into the side-netting.
80'
And now Nketiah goes close! Maitland-Niles flies towards the Red Star box before poking a clever pass into the path of Walcott. The forward runs onto the ball and then squares it back to Nketiah, who quickly forces Borjan into making a decent save before the linesman's flag is eventually raised against Walcott.
79'
Another good opportunity for Walcott! Arsenal keep pushing forward and carve out another chance on goal thanks to good play by Giroud and Elneny. The Egyptian's clever pass is lifted over the Red Star defence and towards Walcott, who only has Borjan to beat but completely misses the ball at the near post.
Minute
Description
78'
Plenty of space opens up in the middle of the pitch once again, allowing Wilshere to burst forward on a decent run. He then sets up Walcott's to his right, but his low cross is poorly hit and fails to beat the first man.
76'
Chance for Walcott! Wilshere picks up the ball in a pocket of space 30 yards away from goal and quickly chips a clever cross over to Walcott. The forward rises high and reaches it well, but he can't hit the target with his downward header and sends his effort a few yards wide of the far post.
74'
Wilshere does well to cut inside and fly past two Red Star players on his way to the visitors' penalty area. He reaches the box and looks set to tee up Giroud, but he's well dealt with by a nicely timed sliding tackle from Marko Gobeljic.
72'
A decent cross from Milic is fired towards the near post, where it's headed behind for a corner by Elneny. It's sent short by Radonjic and sets up Krsticic to whip a cross into the penalty area, but Holding is there to clear the danger with a decent header.
70'
N. Milić enters the game and replaces G. Kanga.
R. Holding gets yellow.
Holding rises high and ends up catching Milic with a flailing arm, leaving the referee with no choice but to shown the defender the first yellow card of the game.
69'
Kanga looks absolutely fuming as he's replaced by Nemanja Milic in Red Star's first change of the night.
68'
E. Nketiah enters the game and replaces J. Willock.
A huge roar erupts around the stadium as young Eddie Nketiah comes on to replace Willock.
67'
Arsenal win themselves a free-kick midway inside the Red Star half of the pitch after Wilshere is brought down slightly late, but Giroud is quickly penalised for pushing inside the penalty area and the visitors are easily able to hold on.
65'
And now Giroud goes close! More good play by Arsenal over on the left flank sees Giroud link up nicely with Maitland-Niles inside the penalty area. The Frenchman then spins and shoots, but he ends up firing his strike a few yards wide of the near post.
63'
Over the line by Le Tallec! Wilshere somehow manages to break into the left-hand side of the Red Star box after getting the better of Stojkovic. He then brushes aside Maitland-Niles and takes the shot on himself, but his chipped effort is well stopped by Le Tallec after beating Borjan.
61'
Another penalty shout for Arsenal! Once again Wilshere makes a nuisance of himself inside the penalty area before poking a pass towards Giroud. Savic is there but the ball bounces off his leg and onto his arm, producing screams for a penalty from the home players and fans. The referee still isn't interested though, and the game continues with a Red Star clearance.
60'
Wilshere goes down inside the penalty area, but nothing is given! The midfielder breaks into the left-hand side of the visitors' box and tries to knock the ball over Savic. He goes down after tangling with the centre-back, but the referee doesn't see anything in it and waves play on.
58'
Arsenal patiently pass the ball around deep inside the Red Star half of the pitch as they try to find a way through the visitors' determined back line, but they're unable to do so and, once again, Savic is easily able to clear the danger with an almighty thump up towards the halfway line.
56'
What a delivery by Srnic! The winger, who has arguably been Red Star's best player this evening, beats his marker out wide before whipping a low cross into the Arsenal box. It looks set to pick out Boakye, but it flies just a few inches past the striker's outstretched boot before the linesman's flag is eventually raised for offside.
55'
Nelson breaks forward on a marauding run as he cuts inside from the right flank and sprints towards the visitors' penalty area. He looks set to take on Borjan, but Savic pulls off a terrific sliding tackle at the vital moment to stop him from doing so.
53'
Another vital interception by Le Tallec! This time it's a wonderfully placed, bouncing cross from Walcott that causes a problems for the Red Star defence, but Le Tallec sticks out a foot at the near post and stops Giroud from getting a shot away from close range.
52'
Red Star can't fully clear the danger from inside their own box and allow Arsenal to push plenty of bodies forward once again. Coquelin bursts into the penalty area and tries to get a shot away, but he's well dealt with by Le Tallec and the defender is just about able to blast the ball away for a throw-in.
50'
Srnic gets himself into a good position over on the right-hand side of the Arsenal penalty area and quickly gets a shot away, but it's underhit and sails straight into the hands of Macey in the middle of the goal.
48'
Not a bad effort by Giroud! Elneny picks out the Frenchman in a pocket of space and sets up the striker to shoot from 25 yards out. He can't quite keep his shot down though, and it ends up flying a few yards over the top of the crossbar.
46'
We're underway once again!
45' +3
Red Star are able to push forward on one final attacking move after Arsenal decided to sit back for a few moments, but a lofted pass down the left flank is slightly overhit and fails to find Radonjic, despite the winger's best efforts to try and keep the ball in play.
45' +1
Arsenal initially play on after Willock goes down after being caught in the groin by Nenad Krsticic, but the hosts' attack fails to come to anything due to a misplaced pass from Walcott and the youngster is eventually able to get back to his feet.
45'
The fourth official has indicated that there will be three minutes of added time.
44'
What an opportunity for Boakye to open the scoring! Donald dispossesses Coquelin and Red Star immediately break away on a brilliant counter-attack. Kanga sends yet another excellent pass through the disjointed Arsenal back line and towards Boakye, who penetrates the box and sends a thumping strike high over the crossbar. He really should have done better with that!
42'
Elneny wins the ball on the halfway line and immediately charges down the right wing. He places a clever pass into the right-hand side of the Red Star penalty area and into the path of Walcott, who tries to square the ball back to Giroud but can only find Savic.
40'
Srnic and Kanga play a good series of passes between themselves as Red Star break forward on another decent counter-attack. The latter is eventually able to chip a ball into the box after being put under good pressure by Holding, but he can't quite pick out a team-mate and Arsenal hold on.
38'
Giroud holds up the ball well just outside of the visitors' penalty area before spinning and picking out Jack Wilshere. The midfielder is in a really good position to shoot but instead works the ball over to Maitland-Niles, whose cross-cum-shot is poorly hit and sails high and wide of the goal.
36'
Savic hits the crossbar! The resulting corner is swung into the middle of the box and somehow manages to pinball over to Savic, who rises high and looks set to head Red Star into the lead but ends up hitting the woodwork due to a fingertip save by Macey.
35'
Thumping strike by Srnic! After dealing with the danger, Red Star quickly burst forward on an excellent counter-attack. The ball is worked over to Srnic and finds him just outside of the Arsenal penalty area, and his rocket of a shot is well tipped over by Macey.
34'
Excellent opportunity for Giroud! The Frenchman skips into the right-hand side of the Red Star box and is set up by a clever pass from Joe Willock, but he can't quite squeeze a first-time shot past Borjan and loses out to the goalkeeper.
32'
Brilliant ball by Slavoljub Srnic! The winger somehow manages to find acres of space deep down the right flank after getting the better of Holding. He then fires a beautiful pass across the face of goal, but it misses Boakye by the narrowest of margins before being poked behind by Mathieu Debuchy at the far post.
30'
Poor play by Coquelin! This time it's Arsenal's chance to counter-attack after Red Star clumsily lose the ball. Coquelin charges through the middle of the pitch and has three team-mates around him, but he hesitates just outside of the box and is comfortably dispossessed.
28'
Arsenal poorly lose possession in the middle of the pitch on the halfway line, allowing Red Star to counter-attack. The visitors initially do well down the right wing before Stojkovic tries to send a cross-field pass over to Radonjic on the opposite flank. It's poorly hit though, allowing the home side to easily win the ball back.
26'
Boakye holds up the ball well on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area as Red Star push forward once again. The striker then spins and sets up Filip Stojkovic, who fires in a low cross that's easily dealt with by Holding.
25'
Donald is eventually able to get back to his feet, and the game gets underway once again. Red Star are able to string together a series of passes before Donald tries to pick out Radonjic, but his volleyed pass down the left wing is a rushed one and can only find a red and white shirt.
23'
It's been a slightly disjointed few minutes due to two Red Star players going down off the ball. First it's Boakye who is eventually able to make a recovery before Mitchell Donald requires medical attention for what looks like a knock to the knee.
21'
Giroud has been causing a few problems for the Red Star defence whenever he's able to get the ball into his feet. This time he picks it up over on the left wing and quickly cuts inside, but he can't pick out a team-mate inside the penalty area and instead sends his poked pass into the hands of Borjan.
19'
Francis Coquelin picks up a loose ball in the middle of the pitch and quickly tries to pick out Maitland-Niles, who is in acres of space out wide. He can't quite do so, however, as his pass towards the youngster is overhit and rolls out for a throw-in.
17'
It's been a relatively comfortable start to the game for Arsenal, who are looking bright inside the final third of the pitch. They'll have to watch out on the break, however, as Red Star look set up to hit the hosts quickly as soon as they're able to win back possession.
15'
Giroud battles his way down the left flank before being dragged to the ground, leaving the referee with no choice but to award Arsenal a free-kick in a promising position. Walcott steps up and whips in a low cross towards the near post, but it's poorly hit and fails to beat Boakye.
13'
Poor play by Radonjic! The Red Star winger links up really well with Kanga once again after managing to find plenty of space out wide. He looks set to burst into the box and get a shot away, but his final touch is terrible and sends the ball rolling behind for a goal-kick.
11'
A misplaced clearance from Damien Le Tallec can only find Walcott just outside of the Red Star penalty area, allowing the forward to try and get a quick shot away. He can't quite so do, however, as Vujadin Savic is there to clear the danger.
9'
What a chance for Olivier Giroud! Lovely play by Ashley Maitland-Niles sees him dance his way into the left-hand side of the visitors' box before teeing up Giroud with a clever pass. The Frenchman immediately shoots, but his first-time effort is well saved by Milan Borjan at the near post.
7'
Reiss Nelson shows excellent pace as he screams down the right flank and into the Red Star penalty area. He then squares a pass across the face of goal that's only cleared as far as Theo Walcott, who quickly shoots but sends his attempted volley behind for a corner.
5'
Almost a costly mistake by Matt Macey! The goalkeeper tries to thump the ball up the pitch but sends a poorly hit clearance straight to Richmond Boakye. The striker controls the ball quickly and then attempts to shoot from the edge of the box, but, luckily for Macey, Rob Holding is there to deal with the danger with a well-timed tackle.
3'
After an even start to the game from both sides, it's Red Star who push forward on the first attacking move of the game. A good pass from Guelor Kanga picks out Nemanja Radonjic and sets up the full-back to send a cross into the penalty area, but it's slightly underhit and easily met by Mohamed Elneny.
1'
We're off! Arsenal get us underway, attacking from left to right.
Good evening and welcome to our live text commentary of today’s Europa League group stage game between Arsenal and Red Star Belgrade at the Emirates.
Arsenal haven’t quite been at their best in the Europa League so far, but they nonetheless head into tonight’s clash with the possibility of booking their place in the knockout stage with a win. The Gunners are yet to drop a point thanks to three relatively straight-forward victories, and a heavily altered side will be aiming for more of the same this evening as they try to keep that winning run going.
With a five-point gap over both Red Star and BATE Borisov, three more points this evening will confirm Arsenal’s spot in the last-32, but they can also make it to the knockout stage with a draw if BATE aren’t able to win their clash in Germany. Arsene Wenger’s men shouldn’t have too many problems tonight, as Saturday’s victory against Swansea City means they’re currently on a four-game winning run across all competitions.
Red Star are thoroughly enjoying themselves at the top of the Serbian SuperLiga with 15 games completed, but they’ve found things slightly tougher in the Europa League so far. The Red-Whites just about managed to beat Cologne but were hold to a draw by BATE before narrowly losing to Arsenal two weeks ago, and they’ll be looking for revenge as they desperately try to keep alive their hopes of progressing.
There’s just under 15 minutes left to go until kick-off, so let’s have a look at how the two teams will be lining up this evening…
Red Star Belgrade XI (4-2-3-1): Borjan; Stojkovic, Savic, Le Tallec, Gobeljic; Donald, Krsticic; Srnic, Kanga, Radonjic; Boakye.
Arsenal substitutes: Cech, Osei-Tutu, McGuane, Sheaf, Dasilva, Nketiah, Akpom.
Arsenal XI (3-4-2-1): Macey; Debuchy, Elneny, Holding; Nelson, Coquelin, Willock, Maitland-Niles; Walcott, Wilshere; Giroud.
Red Star Belgrade substitutes: Supic, Babic, Frimpong, Racic, Adzic, Milic, Pesic.
Arsene Wenger has decided to make one change to the Arsenal side that started the win against Red Star two weeks ago, with Matt Macey coming into the starting line-up to replace Petr Cech.
Meanwhile, Red Star boss Vladan Milojevic has also made just one alteration to the team that featured in the last meeting between the two sides, with the suspended Milan Rodic making way for Marko Gobeljic.
The two sides are making their way out onto the pitch, with just a few minutes to go until kick-off.
Wenger has been using the Europa League to rest first team players while trying out youngsters and those on the fringes, and that’s exactly what he’s decided to do for this evening’s game. Matt Macey is set to start in goal for the first time ever in Europe, while the likes of Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock and Ashley Maitland have also been handed places in a heavily altered line-up.
HALF-TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 RED STAR BELGRADE
There isn't much to talk about at the end of what was a pretty underwhelming first half. Arsenal have just about been the better of the two sides but have struggled to cause too many problems for a stubborn and well-organised Red Star defence. The visitors have also looked bright on the break, and really should be in front after Boakye was presented with a great chance to fire them into the lead, only to blast his strike high over the crossbar.
The two teams are making their way back out on to the pitch ahead of the start of the second half. Neither side have made any substitutions during the half-time break.
FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 0-0 RED STAR BELGRADE
It wasn't the best of performances from a largely second-string Arsenal side, but, thanks to Cologne's 5-2 win at home to BATE, they've confirmed their place in the knockout stage of the competition. That would have been Arsene Wenger's only goal heading into tonight's game, as their progression means he can continue resting his big guns for the final two group stage games, allowing the Gunners to fully concentrate on the Premier League.
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