Arsene Wenger has revealed how confident Olivier Giroud was of Arsenal scoring against Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League clash at the Rajko Mitic Stadium.
The Gunners laboured against their Serbian opponents, who wasted numerous chances to take the lead, before Giroud scored a spectacular overhead winner for the visitors in the 85th minute.
The 1-0 win maintains Arsenal's perfect record in Group H and means that a win in the return encounter on November 2 would guarantee qualification with two games to spare.
"At some stage Giroud came to the touchline and told me: 'We will score'," Wenger told reporters after the game.
"He knew more than I did. 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. You win when you can and you don't decide that.
"Overall, the spirit we showed was remarkable, fighting together in a game that was very physical. In the end, we got a win that gives credit to the mentality of the team."
Arsenal are only the second English side to win at Red Star in European competition, with Bolton Wanderers claiming a win over the Serbian giants in December 2007 in the UEFA Cup.
Giuseppe Labellarte
