Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Europa League Group H clash between Arsenal and Crvena Zvezda - or Red Star Belgrade to me and you.

The Gunners are in control of Group H and could qualify for the last 32 with two games to spare tonight, but their visitors have plenty to fight for too, with only goal difference currently keeping them out of the top two.

It is all to play for tonight, then, and Arsenal will be bidding to keep up the European success from their fellow top six rivals following a memorable night in the Champions League last night.

Tottenham Hotspur can lay claim to being the pride of North London at the moment, and they reinforced that with one of the best results in the club's history by beating Real Madrid 3-1 at Wembley last night - a result which could have been even worse for the European champions.

Arsenal will not be able to bear being outshone by their fiercest rivals and, while nothing they could do tonight would overshadow that Spurs win, they can at least come up with some response by qualifying for the last 32 this evening.

These two sides met just a fortnight ago, of course, with Arsenal running out winners on that occasion in Belgrade - but only by the narrowest of margins.

It took until the 85th minute for the Gunners to find a way through against their hosts, but it was worth the wait as Olivier Giroud scored a stunning goal to fire Arsenal to all three points and leave them on the brink of the knockout stages upon their return to this competition.

Right, the team news should be filtering through in just a moment, and we will bring it to you as soon as we get it. We're expecting plenty of changes from Arsenal, with Manchester City coming up at the weekend.

ARSENAL STARTING XI: Macey; Debuchy, Elneny, Holding; Nelson, Willock, Coquelin, Maitland-Niles; Walcott, Wilshere; Giroud

ARSENAL SUBS: Cech, Osei-Tutu, Sheaf, Dasilva, McGuane, Akpom, Nketiah

RED STAR STARTING LINEUP: Borjan; Stojkovic, Savic, Le Tallec, Gobeljic; Donald, Krsticic, Srnic, Kanga, Radonjic; Boakye

RED STAR SUBS: Frimpong, Racic, Adzic, Babic, Milic, Supic, Pesic

What can we make of those two sides?

Well, I said we were expecting changes from Arsenal and Arsene Wenger certainly hasn't disappointed - a full 11 from the weekend win over Swansea as the Gunners rest all of their main men ahead of Sunday's trip to Premier League leaders Manchester City.

Ozil, Lacazette and Sanchez are amongst those to miss out completed, while Cech is the only recognised senior player even on the bench.

With David Ospina still injured, Matt Macey is given the gloves for tonight's match for what will be just his second start - indeed his second appearance overall - in the Arsenal senior team, and unsurprisingly his first taste of European competition.

The Englishman will be desperate to take his chance and perhaps begin to challenge Ospina for the number two spot once he returns to fitness, but he will also know that chances like this are very rare. Big night for the 23-year-old shot-stopper.

Despite the full 11 changes from the weekend, Macey's inclusion is the only change from the reverse fixture last month as Wenger otherwise keeps faith with the side that just about got the job done in Belgrade.

That means that same starting back three of Debuchy, Elneny and Rob Holding, which I suspect may not be the back line Wenger opts for at the Etihad Stadium this weekend. Elneny is more familiar with a midfield role, Debuchy has made his name as a right-back, while Holding has failed to fulfil his potential so far, so it is very much a makeshift back three tonight.

Further forward, it is another youthful midfield named by Wenger as Nelson, Willock and Maitland-Niles all start, while the more experienced Francis Coquelin makes up the quartet in the middle of the park.

Neither Nelson nor Maitland-Niles will need any encouragement to get forward whenever they can tonight, and they will be expected to spend most of their time in the opposition half, pinning Red star back as the Gunners dominate possession.

There is more experience in the forward areas, where Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere start in support of Olivier Giroud, who leads the line once again.

Walcott and Wilshere have only experienced 40 minutes of Premier League football between them all season so far, with the majority of their game time coming in this competition, but rather than being disheartened by that they must see nights like tonight as a chance to show Wenger what they can do and earn a place in his plans on the domestic front.

It is hard to argue with some of Giroud's scoring statistics at Arsenal, but he has been knocked by the pecking order since the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette having also played second fiddle to Alexis Sanchez last season.

Even so, the French striker's goal in the reverse fixture last month made it seven in his last eight European starts for the club, while he has also contributed an assist in that time meaning that he has had a direct hand in eight goals in as many games for the Gunners in Europe.

Red Star are without the suspended Milan Rodic tonight following his red card in the reverse fixture, with the full-back being replaced in the side by Gobeljic this evening.

That is the only change made by manager Vladan Milojevic from the first leg, though, as he otherwise keeps faith with the team that pushed Arsenal so close in the hope that they can produce something similar tonight.

The dangerman for Red Star tonight is likely to be Ghanaian striker Richmond Boakye, who leads the line fresh from scoring a late winner to fire his side past Zemun in the Serbian league on Sunday.

Boakye scored seven goals in the qualifying stages for the groups this season, leaving him as the joint top-scorer in that section, so he certainly knows where the goal is.

It looks like being a difficult evening for the visitors, though, and Boakye may find himself isolated for much of the night if the match goes as expected, with Arsenal dominating possession and certainly looking to make the breakthrough earlier than they did in Belgrade.

For Arsenal the task is simple tonight: win and they qualify for the last 32. However, even a draw could be enough to see them reach the knockout rounds with two games to spare should BATE fail to beat Koln.

BATE will be favourites to win that one, though, with Koln having lost all three of their matches so far, so Arsenal will be eager to keep up their own end of the bargain by picking up the victory tonight.

The Gunners have adapted quickly to their return to second tier of European football having won all three of their group games so far, beating Koln in their previous home game before back-to-back wins over BATE and Red Star in Belarus and Serbia respectively.

This is Arsenal's first ever appearance in the Europa League group stages, and they first campaign in the second tier of European football since the 1999-2000 UEFA Cup, when they made it all the way to the final before being beaten by Galatasaray.

Arsene Wenger's side are one of only four teams who can still boast a 100% record in the group stages, and with four consecutive victories across all competitions heading into this one, they will be confident of maintaining that record tonight.

Indeed, Arsenal have won 10 of their last 12 games since their back-to-back defeats to Stoke and Liverpool in August, once again proving talk of a crisis to be premature.

Arsenal's title hopes already looks bleak for another season, though, with the Gunners currently trailing Manchester City by nine points ahead of Sunday's trip to the Etihad Stadium. Only Newcastle have lost more games than Arsenal in the top half of the table, and should they become the latest team to be swept aside by City at the weekend then they could all but kiss their title hopes goodbye after just 11 games.

Back to tonight, though, and Arsenal come into this match with a 100% record across all competitions here at the Emirates Stadium so far this season, winning all eight of their matches. During that time they have scored 19 goals and conceded just six - half of which came in the opening-day 4-3 triumph over Leicester City.

Indeed, stretching back to last season Arsenal have now won their last 13 home matches across all competitions - a run which dates back to a 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the beginning of April.

Arsenal beat Koln in their only home game in this season's competition so far, despite kickoff being delayed due to crowd trouble in that match. Arsenal fell behind early on, but came back to win 3-1.

Victory tonight would make it six consecutive home wins in the UEFA Cup/Europa League for Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, with the Frenchman drawing his first such match but boasting a perfect record since then.

Indeed, home and away Arsenal have not lost a UEFA Cup or Europa League match in normal time since March 2000, when they were beaten 2-1 at Deportivo La Coruna, picking up seven wins and a draw from their eight subsequent matches.

Another win tonight would mark only the second time Arsenal have ever won their opening four group games in a European competition, and the omens would be good too as the previous occasion came in 2005-06, when they reached the final of the Champions League.

Can Red Star prevent that from happening? Well, the odds suggest not, but at the very least tonight's visitors are a difficult team to beat.

This will already be their 28th game across all competitions this season, and in that time they have only lost three games, with 20 victories and four draws in that time too. Arsenal have played 11 games fewer than their opponents tonight, so they should have fresher legs.

The Europa League obviously represents a big step up in quality from what Red Star are used to facing on a weekly basis, but the main reason behind why they are so tough to beat is their fearsome defensive record.

Red Star have kept 18 clean sheets in their 27 games across all competitions this season, including in each of their last two games coming into this one. On only two occasions have they conceded more than one goal in a game, and overall they have let in just 13 during those 27 outings.

Those are impressive statistics that show up both domestically and in Europe, with Red Star having conceded just three goals from their 15 Super Liga outings so far this season while also boasting the best defensive record in Group H having conceded just twice.

It is a different story in attack, though. Red Star once again lead the way domestically on that front, with 32 goals from their 15 league games, but in the Europa League they have scored just twice.

Considering those statistics, it won't come as a surprise that Red Star lead the way in the Serbian Super Liga at the moment, sitting four points clear of bitter rivals Partizan Belgrade having won 13 and lost just one of their opening 15 games.

Red Star finished second in the league last season and so are looking to make amends this time around, and they have made a good start towards doing that.

Red Star have won five of their last six games heading into tonight's match, with the defeat to Arsenal in the reverse fixture the only exception in that time, while on the road it is a similar story with, again, five wins from their last six away outings.

Indeed, Red Star have won eight of their last 10 away games with clean sheets in each of those games, going on to lose any match they have conceded in on the travels since July. Overall away from home this season, Red Star have won 10, drawn two and lost two of their 14 outings.

Red Star's season began way back on June 29, with their second-place finish in the Super Liga forcing them to enter the competition in the first knockout round.

Milojevic's side had to overcome opposition from Malta, Kazakhstan, Czech Republic and Russia to reach the group stages for the first time since 2007-08, and are one of only three teams - alongside Skenderbeu and Maccabi Tel-Aviv - to have made it all the way from the first knockout round to the groups.

Red Star seem to be in a battle with BATE for second place in the group, although BATE have the slight advantage at the moment - in terms of goal difference and the remaining fixtures as they still face Red Star at home.

The Serbian outfit have picked up only one point from their two home games so far compared to maximum points from their away visit to Koln, and another win this evening would give them back-to-back European away victories for the first time since November 1991.

Red Star actually won the European Cup in 1991, so they do have pedigree on the continent, but they have failed to reach the group stages of the Champions League since 1991-92.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at the Emirates Stadium, which means that it is time for a prediction!

Arsenal found things difficult in Belgrade and, while Red Star are an organised outfit who don't tend to give cheap goals away, things should be a little easier for the Gunners tonight. It is a second-string team, and a third-string bench, but they should still have enough.

SPORTS MOLE SAYS: Arsenal 2-0 Red Star Belgrade

Arsenal in last month's reverse fixture was their first ever triumph against Red Star, having previously met them in the 1978-79 UEFA Cup last 16.

The Gunners failed to win either of those legs on that occasions, losing 1-0 in Belgrade before being held to a 1-1 draw at Highbury, with Alan Sunderland scoring the goal for Terry Neil's Arsenal side.

Aside from what is now three matches against Red Star in which they have a record of won one, drawn one and lost one, Arsenal's only other meetings with Serbian opposition came against Partizan Belgrade in the 2010-11 Champions League group stages.

The Gunners won both of those matches 3-1, with Theo Walcott amongst the scorers when the other big Belgrade club visited the Emirates.

Red Star's own record against English clubs is good, although they are by no means the force they once were on the European stage. From 17 previous matches against English teams, Red Star have won six, drawn five and lost six, so they have certainly been able to hold their own in the past.

Their only previous win on English soil came back in 1973, and it was a memorable one as the club inflicted a first ever home European Cup defeat on Liverpool by winning 2-1 at Anfield.

Right, the players are on their way out for this one, so before we get started allow me to quickly remind you about the team news...

ARSENAL STARTING XI: Macey; Debuchy, Elneny, Holding; Nelson, Willock, Coquelin, Maitland-Niles; Walcott, Wilshere; Giroud

RED STAR STARTING LINEUP: Borjan; Stojkovic, Savic, Le Tallec, Gobeljic; Donald, Krsticic, Srnic, Kanga, Radonjic; Boakye

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Arsenal get us underway at the Emirates!

Macey needs to make an early interception as he races off his line and out of his area to nod a long goal kick out for a throw. Boakye looked interested in that, so it was a good decision from the stand-in keeper.

It is very early days in this one, of course, but Red Star have made a confident start. They have settled into the match quickly and don't look overawed by the occasion tonight.

Space for Radonjic to race into down the left flank and it is a good attacking platform for the visitors, but his low ball into the box is dealt with by Elneny before it can reach Boakye.

Mistake from Macey, which will do nothing to settle his nerves. His clearance is terrible and goes straight to Boakye, but Holding is quick to react to and win the ball back before any damage can be done.

almost the first sight of goal for Arsenal as Nelson races down the right flank, but his cross into the box is deflected and when the ball eventually falls to Walcott on the edge of the box he is quickly closed down and Arsenal only come away with a corner.

Concern for Arsenal here as Giroud lands heavily following an aerial challenge and stays down. He appears to be suffering from a hamstring problem, which would be a worry for the striker.

CHANCE! Well, that injury doesn't seem to be causing Giroud too many problems, although he should score here. It is the first big chance of the match, and it is created by Maitland-Niles as he skips past his man before cutting a low ball back into the middle for Giroud. The Frenchman meets it with a firm strike, but Borjan pulls off a good save to deny him.

Radonjic has broken in behind the defence twice down the left channel now, and on both occasions he has wasted it. This time Kanga lays the ball into his path in plenty of space and he could drive towards goal and shoot, but his first touch is dreadful and races away from him for a goal kick.

There have been one or two warning signs for Arsenal of Red Star getting in behind them already tonight. The only clear chance has gone the way of the hosts, but this is an open and even game right now.

UPDATE: There has been a goal in the group's other game, and it is good news for Red Star as Koln have taken the lead against BATE in Germany.

Wilshere swings a corner into the middle which Debuchy rises to meet, but it is just too high for him and he can only glance his header comfortably off target.

Not much to report in terms of goalmouth action in the last few minutes. Both sides still look capable of breaking through, although Arsenal have taken a firmer grip over the game now.

The biggest cheer of the night arrives, and it is for the Red Star keeping falling over inside his own box. The keeper had the ball in his hands but lost his footing just as he was trying to throw it out. He actually did well to hold onto it - that would have been some gaffe if he had spilt it!

Borjan comes off his line to claim a cross and immediately looks to release Boakye with a long kick, which is certainly a tactic of theirs tonight. Again he loses his footing, but this time he does at least get the ball away.

Arsenal fans are beginning to lose patience with Red Star players going to ground as it is breaking the game up. Donald is the latest to require treatment, but he looks like he will be fine to continue.

Kanga tries his luck as a low cross into the box is only cleared as far as the midfielder, but his first-time effort is nowhere near troubling Macey in the Arsenal goal.

We're approaching the half-hour mark in this one, and it has not been a classic so far to say the least. Only one chance of any note, and a severe lack of quality in the final third aside from that.

Arsenal have the chance to break, with as much space as they have enjoyed at any stage of the game so far, but Coquelin delays his pass and in the end gives it away. He has a few different options, but seems to be caught in two minds and wastes a good attacking platform.

UPDATE: BATE have levelled things up against Koln in Germany, which as things stand keeps them above Red Star on goal difference in second place.

Red Star's best attacking moment of the match sees Srnic break down the right before playing a delightfully teasing ball into the box which needs to be put behind by an Arsenal defender.

UPDATE: Bad news for Red Star! BATE have scored twice in as many minutes to complete a quickfire turnaround against Koln, who they now lead 2-1.

CHANCE! Chance for Giroud as Willock steals possession in midfield before poking a cute ball through for the France international, who just tries to flick his finish beyond Borjan, who spreads himself well to make a big save.

SAVE! Red Star immediately break up the other end and Srnic tries his luck from 20 yards with a rising drive which Macey needs to turn over the crossbar.

OFF THE BAR! Let-off for Arsenal as Red Star almost take the lead against the run of play! A corner is played short and the initial strike from range is blocked, with the ball looping up into the area. The Arsenal defence seems to go to sleep, though, and that allows Savic to get on the end of the dropping ball with a looping header which Macey does really well to turn onto the crossbar.

Arsenal break forward again and the ball eventually falls to Maitland-Niles on the left side of the area, but his cross goes straight behind for a goal kick.

Red Star have tried to get forward whenever the chance has arisen tonight, and they move down the right channel again here before the attack breaks down. There is just a dearth of quality in the final third for both teams right now.

Not much entertainment here, but elsewhere in the Europa League a remarkable story is emerging as Patrice Evra was sent off before kickoff for kicking a supporter in the head. Eric Cantona eat your heart out - I suspect a hefty ban will be coming the way of the former Manchester United full-back.

CHANCE! Big chance for Red Star to go into the break ahead! Boakye races clean through on goal and has time to pick his spot, but he gets his finish all wrong and puts it well off target when he only had the keeper to beat. Dreadful finish, and that just about sums this game up so far.

We will have to endure three more minutes of this first half.

The first half comes to an end at the Emirates Stadium, and we're still goalless between Arsenal and Red Star following what was, quite frankly, a pretty dire opening 45 minutes.

Arsenal, as expected, dominated possession for the most part, but the best chances have fallen the way of Red Star and they will feel that they should be ahead at the interval.

The closest we have come to a goal so far arrived nine minutes before the break when a Red Star corner was played out to Radonjic, whose strike was blocked before it could trouble Macey.

Arsenal seemed to think that the danger had gone at that point, but the ball looped into the box and Savic reacted best to get his head on the end of it. It took a fine stop from Macey to turn the ball onto the crossbar, with the Arsenal keeper preventing his side from falling behind.

Red Star created arguably an even better chance in the final minute of the first half when Boakye raced clean through on goal with only the keeper to beat, but despite having time and space to pick his spot he could not finish.

Indeed, his finish was really disappointing as he placed an effort wide of the target, not even forcing Macey into a save when he really should have scored.

Arsenal's two best moments have fallen the way of Giroud, but the striker has been denied on two separate occasions by Borjan in the Red Star goal.

The first came after good work from Maitland-Niles, while Willock created the second, but neither resulted in the opening goal of the contest.

KICKOFF: Red Star get us back underway for the start of this second half.

SHOT! Giroud looks to provide a moment of quality which was sorely lacking in that first half, finding space around 25 yards from goal before driving his effort over the crossbar. Worth a go.

Radonjic has lots of pace down that left, but he is just beaten the ball here by the equally-pacey Nelson, who makes an important challenge.

SAVE! Kanga feeds the ball out to the right channel for Srnic, who only has one thought in his mind. His strike is low, hard and on target, but easy for Macey to gather.

UPDATE: Good news for Arsenal and Red Star as Koln have levelled things up again against BATE. That means that as things stand Arsenal would qualify for the last 32 tonight, even if they can only manage a draw themselves.

Important interception from Le Tallec as he sticks out a leg to turn Walcott's cross behind for a corner with Giroud lurking dangerously behind him. Le Tallec then makes another good clearance from the resulting corner after Giroud had beaten the keeper fairly in the air.

Radonjic really is rapid, but he doesn't have the quality on the ball to make him a really dangerous position. He again bursts forward here, but his final ball towards Boakye sees another attacking break down.

Nelson tries a run forward of his own at the other end, but he is stopped in his tracks by a brilliant crunching challenge from Savic.

Brilliant ball into the box from Srnic as he slides a low cross into such a dangerous area. It goes all the way through, beyond Arsenal defenders and Boakye alike, although the Red Star striker was offside anyway.

SHOT! Poor from Willock as he holds onto the ball for far too long, eventually going for goal himself much to Walcott's frustration.

We're approaching the hour mark in this match now and there haven't been too many signs of improvement in this second half so far.

PENALTY SHOUT! Two penalty shouts in quick succession for Arsenal as first Wilshere goes to ground under the challenge of Savic before the same defender is accused of handball. The first is the correct decision from the referee, but the second is a little more difficult as the ball bounces up against the arm of Savic. It was certainly not deliberate, though, and Red Star eventually hack the ball away.

UPDATE: Could Koln be making a late charge for that second place too? They have taken a 3-2 lead in their topsy-turvy clash with BATE, which would leave Red Star second on five points, BATE third on four and Koln fourth on three.

OFF THE LINE! Incredible defending from Le Tallec to keep the scores goalless! It looked for all the world as though Wilshere would finally break the deadlock as Wilshere broke into the box before lifting his finish over the keeper, but Le Tallec somehow hooks it away to prevent a certain goal. You won't see many better goalline clearances than that.

SHOT! Moments later the ball arrives at the feet of Giroud inside the box, but his shot on the turn flies past the near post.

Giroud climbs really well inside the box to win a header in commanding fashion, but the referee blows for a foul on the defender. Very harsh on Giroud that.

ARSENAL SUB: Arsenal make their first change of the night as Eddie Nketiah replaces Willock.

RED STAR SUB: The visitors respond with a change of their own, and Kanga is not at all happy about being taken off here. He is replaced by Nemanja Milic.

YELLOW CARD! Holding is the first name in the book tonight for an aerial challenge on Srnic after he led with his arm. No complaints there.

Less than 20 minutes remaining in this one now, and Red Star are still very much in this game. Arsenal have seen the majority of the ball once again, but they haven't created much with it and this one could still go either way.

Red Star are slowing the game down whenever possible, which they have done from the first whistle tonight. A draw at the Emirates would be a very good result for them, particular considering the group's other scoreline at the moment.

CHANCE! Better from Arsenal as Wilshere, who is having a growing influence on the game now, lifts his cross into the middle. Walcott gets across his man and nods the ball towards goal, but his header skims narrowly wide of the target.

CHANCE! It's a half-chance for Walcott, but he could have done better. Elneny lifts the ball into the path of Walcott inside the area, but the winger completely misses his kick on the turn. It was a difficult one, but Walcott will feel that he should have done better.

Almost another chance for Arsenal as Walcott breaks in behind the defence before laying the ball back for Nketiah, but the flag is already raised against Walcott when the youngster pulls the trigger.

CHANCE! Big chance for Boakye and Red Star again! Debuchy goes down off the ball clutching his ankle, and that suddenly leaves the Red Star striker in space down the left channel. He is subsequently put through on goal, but he once again wastes the chance by blasting his effort wide of the near post. That is two big chance he has missed tonight.

UPDATE: Koln now lead BATE 4-2 in Germany, which means that Arsenal will be going through tonight unless Red Star score a late winner here.

Stojkovic goes down now and needs treatment, but as soon as the stretcher makes its way onto the field he is up and limps off himself. Just five minutes to hold out for the visitors now.

RED STAR SUB: Another change for the visitors as Uro Racic replaces Srnic.

RED STAR SUB: A third and final change for the visitors as Radonjic is replaced by Aleksandar Pesic.

There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match.

The referee brings an end to the match here at the Emirates, and despite a goalless draw Arsenal will be playing Europa League knockout football this season.

It was by no means a classic tonight, and Red Star could have easily come away with a famous win from this match having hit the bar and squandered two more clear chances, but Arsenal also had an effort cleared off the line so a draw is probably a fair result.

Right, that is all we have time for this evening!

Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's Europa League contest as Arsenal progress into the last 32 despite being held to a goalless draw by Red Star Belgrade at the Emirates Stadium. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too.

From me, though, it is goodbye for now!