Dinamo Zagreb 2 - Arsenal 1: 10-men Gunners slump to defeat after moronic Giroud red card

Olivier Giroud covers his face after being sent off

ARSENAL got their Champions League campaign off to the worst possible start with a 2-1 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.

 

Olivier Giroud was sent off for two needless fouls in the first half to reduce his team to 10-men.

Arsenal went a goal down when Zagreb counter-attacked and the ball found its way to Pivaric.

His shot was saved by David Ospina but the ball deflected off Alex Oxlade Chamberlain into the net.

A minute before that, Guroud had picked up his first booking for dissent.

 

And in the 40th minute he was dismissed by the referee for a trip and received a second yellow.

In the 58th minute, the Gunners went 2-0 down when Fernandes da Silva headed in a corner past Ospina.

Arsenal got a consolation thanks to Theo Walcott in the 79th minute.

The England striker latched onto a through ball from Alexis Sanchez and he raced into the penalty area before sliding a calm finish beyond the keeper.

And it was only to be a consolation goal despite Arsenal's pressing in the closing moments.