‘When Jack’s in your team, you’ll be strong'

For 85 minutes in Belgrade, it looked like we would have to settle for a hard-earned point against Red Star in the Europa League.

But then one majestic turn from Jack Wilshere created a move that resulted in Olivier Giroud’s latest wondergoal to add to his growing collection.

Theo Walcott also played his part in that strike, and he says any side containing Wilshere and Giroud will contain a big goal threat.

“It was a hell of a move, simple as that,” he said. “I managed to play a lucky little one-two with Jack, obviously headed it for Oli and then he’s doing the unusual [to score].

“I don’t really remember it too much, I just remember Oli’s finish - it was that good. But it was good build-up  playand I’m very pleased with the assist as well.

“When you’ve got Jack Wilshere fit, and Jack Wilshere in your team, you’re always going to be strong. He’s playing sort of anywhere really, he had a feel role more in the second half that the manager gave him, which probably played a bit more into our hands. 

“The first half was quite difficult,” Walcott added. “We had to sort of ease ourselves into the game, trying to adapt to the conditions and in the second half we managed to get hold of it a bit better, countered a lot better. We just had to dig in and we did.”