Red Star Belgrade 0-0 Arsenal LIVE: Europa League latest scores, news and highlights

Red Star Belgrade vs Arsenal LIVE: Express Sport brings you the latest Europa League scores, updates and analysis

27: Red Star starting to show us what they’re about, as are Arsenal…

Boakye is left completely unmarked at a corner, and the forward’s header bounces off the ground and against the bar.

24: Incidentally, Debuchy has lasted longer than he did on his last start 11 months ago. That was a mere 16 minutes…

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23: Srnic successfully keeps pace with Boakye on the counter but his effort is quickly snuffed out.

20: You’d have to say it’s been a pretty good start for Arsenal. A few chances created and they look fairly solid in defence. This Boakye fella is mighty quick though. Keep an eye out for him.

17: What a chance! Red Star fail to clear a free-kick, and it falls kindly to Walcott. The England international should thump it home but snatches at it. Goalkeeper Borjan makes a comfortable save in the end.

15: Boakye, who plenty of European clubs including Chelsea are reported to be monitoring, is lively. He broke the offside trap but his cutback was straight to Holding.

12: Close! Jack Wilshere finds himself in acres of space, and it’s pretty much a 3v2 situation, but he couldn’t release it to the unmarked Theo Walcott.

Big let off for Red Star. 

10: Debuchy sprays a ball forward but there’s too much on it, even for the chasing Theo Walcott.

7: Jack Wilshere does well to spot the run of Theo Walcott, who tries to do too much and eventually loses possession.

6: Not sure who’s responsible for the camera work in Belgrade tonight, but it’s like watching the Blair Witch Project. Handheld camera stuff fizzing around all over the place.

3: Plenty of noise in the stands, but not much in the way of chances. Red Star are seeing most of the possession, but no chances.

RED STAR BELGRADE 0-0 ARSENAL

1: We’re underway folks. As promised, we’ve got a very intimidating atmosphere here tonight. I don’t think you’ll find a more appropriate moment to show the whole world your cojones…

17:58: Really hoping for a big performance from Jack Wilshere tonight. The midfielder is clearly itching to get involved in the Premier League.

LINE-UPS

17:55: Quick reminder of those starting XI’s. Saves you from scrolling down. I’m bloody nice like that.

Red Star Belgrade XI: Borjan, Le Tallec, Rodic, Stojkovic, Savic, Krsticic, Kanga, Donald, Radonjic, Srnic, Boakye.

Subs: Supic, Babic, Racic, Milijas, Adzic, Gobeljic, Pesic

Arsenal XI: Cech, Debuchy, Holding, Elneny; Nelson, Coquelin, Willock, Maitland-Niles; Walcott, Wilshere; Giroud.

Subs: Macey, Osei-Tutu, McGuane, Sheaf, Akpom, Da Silva, Nketiah.

DEBUCHY FUTURE

17:50: Not sure you answered the question, Arsene.

BT Sports just asked Wenger if Mathieu Debuchy can still have a career at Arsenal, but the tactician wouldn’t be pinned down on an answer.

He explained: “It’s always open, it’s down to performances. He is back without any physical problems. Let’s touch wood and hope nothing happens to him tonight.”

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Steve: Arsene Wenger doesn’t care about this competition, but its very disrespectful to field a team like that, not one f*** do they give travelling fans!

Grossman: HAHA WTF IS THIS?! Surely Wenger knows he doesn’t HAVE to play a 3-5-2 right? A truly baffling team selection, no other way to put it.

Alex: Why isn’t Wenger playing Chambers?! Our back five is made up of a RB, CM, 2 x wingers and CB. Only 1 player in position FFS!

Errr, I think he’s injured, Alex.

MILOJEVIC: WE’RE TOGETHER

17:45: Anyone else think Vladan Milojevic, Red Star Belgrade’s manager, sounds like he’s auditioning for a role in Gladiator 2 when speaking about tonight’s clash?

Judge it for yourself.

He said: “Arsenal’s defeats in the Premier League do not fool us – they are still an excellent team. Even if they fielded a rotated team, that wouldn’t mean that they are underestimating us – Arsene Wenger doesn’t ever underestimate anyone.

“We’ll host one of the best clubs in the world, a club that competes in, what is for me, Europe’s strongest league. It is a sell-out, our fans have already won. Now it’s up to us to do the same. We’re in it together.”

Top work Vladan, you’ve got the part!

THE SETTING…

17:40: I know yesterday Arsene Wenger said Arsenal were relishing the prospect of facing fervent Red Star Belgrade fans in the cauldron of their Rajko Mitic stadium.

Not sure relishing would be the word I would use to describe it.

Anyway, dug in at the heart of a busy residential district in central Belgrade, the 56,000-seater stadium when filled with fervent home fans produces decibel levels able to intimidate even the most battle-hardened opponents.

Tonight is no exception. Even Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach is taking some stick!

GROUP H STANDINGS…

17:30: Things are looking very comfortable for the Gunners. A victory tonight would send them five points clear of their nearest rival, regardless of what happens between BATE and Koln.

ERRRR, NOPE!

17:25: Speaking of having Cojones…

I’ve embedded a video (below) of the tunnel that Arsenal will be walking down at Red Star Belgrade’s stadium.

Think I’d rather take my chances with a dodgy parachute than go through that!

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Greg: Common sense prevails, there will be no controversial Premier League games on Christmas Eve, but then again I’ll be in the pub anyway!

Nor: Not sure Arsene Wenger has his heart fully in the competition for Arsenal. His pre-season high hopes didn’t include the Europa League I feel.

Hugh: Mathieu Debuchy has been so unlucky with injuries. He definitely still can contribute to this Arsenal team.

JACK TAKES EXCEPTION

17:15: Jack Wilshere believes that Arsenal were unfairly criticised after last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Watford.

Troy Deeney certainly didn’t help matters…

The Hornets striker, who equalised with a penalty in the 71st minute, dismissed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s claims that the spot-kick was to blame for their loss and questioned the north London side’s lack of cojones…

“As a player if your attitude is questioned, it’s horrible. I look around this team and you can’t question our character,” Wilshere said.

“People try to put us down, they always have. I don’t think the comments were justified. When we look back at the game we look back at ourselves and what we did wrong. I don’t think we can look back and question our character.”

ARSENAL TEAM NEWS

17:05: Plenty of changes from Saturday’s defeat to Watford. Nine to be precise. 

Mohamed Elneny and Petr Cech are the only survivors with the goalkeeper starting between the sticks because David Ospina has not travelled.

Elsewhere Arsene Wenger has recalled Mathieu Debuchy for his first start in 11 months, while fellow Frenchman Olivier Giroud leads the attack.

Just cast my eye over the substitutes… not many to call upon if the worst should happen!

LINE-UPS

17:00: As promised. Arsene Wenger has named this starting XI for tonight’s clash. Looks like Mohamed Elneny will be playing as a makeshift centre-back. I remember he played there during pre-season.

Red Star Belgrade XI: Borjan, Le Tallec, Rodic, Stojkovic, Savic, Krsticic, Kanga, Donald, Radonjic, Srnic, Boakye.

Subs: Supic, Babic, Racic, Milijas, Adzic, Gobeljic, Pesic

Arsenal XI: Cech, Debuchy, Holding, Elneny; Nelson, Coquelin, Willock, Maitland-Niles; Walcott, Wilshere; Giroud.

Subs: Macey, Osei-Tutu, McGuane, Sheaf, Akpom, Da Silva, Nketiah.

TEAM NEWS KLAXON

16:55: Those starting XI’s should arrive very soon indeed folks. My fingers are poised to bring it your way.

CHRISTMAS EVE…

16:50: Sorry to mention Christmas already folks. Only 67 days until I get to argue with my family again…

Anyway, the BIG news is that no Premier League games will take place on Christmas Eve.

Liverpool’s trip to Arsenal was under consideration, but it will now be played on Friday, 22 December.

HELLO

16:45: Good afternoon and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Europa League.

Or as it should be known, The Fringe Player Trophy…

Yep, it’s another Thursday night, and that can only mean that Arsene Wenger is unleashing his lesser-spotted stars on unsuspecting European opposition.

And boy, haven’t they done well.

The Gunners boast a 100 per cent record in the competition and are firmly on course to qualify for the next stage.

Let’s get going!

ARSENAL TEAM NEWS

Arsenal could recall Mathieu Debuchy for their Europa League group game at Red Star Belgrade, with the France international in line for his first start in 11 months.

The defender has been sidelined and almost left in the summer but is now expected to start in Serbia as Arsene Wenger rings the changes.

Petr Cech will start in goal as David Ospina has not travelled while Danny Welbeck (hamstring) and Santi Cazorla (ankle) are among a host of first-team players not to travel.

Arsenal provisional squad: Cech, Macey, Debuchy, Holding, Dasilva, Mustafi, Bellerin, Nelson, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Wilshere, Willock, Elneny, McGuane, Giroud, Walcott, Iwobi, Nketiah.