Arsenal has recorded their second successive win in the Europa League with a 4-2 victory away at BATE Borisov.
Theo Walcott netted twice inside the opening 22 minutes, while further goals from Rob Holding and Olivier Giroud – his 100th in an Arsenal shirt – put the Gunners into what turned out to be an unassailable lead.
Arsenal took control of proceedings, with Walcott striking the post after latching onto Jack Wilshere’s through-ball.
However, a minute later, the same duo combined again to contribute the opening goal, with Wilshere’s cross being finished off by Walcott from close range at the second attempt.
Goalkeeper Denis Scherbitskiy sent a pass straight to the feet of the grateful Walcott, who bided his time before finding the bottom corner with his low shot.
Poor defending also led to Arsenal’s third of the evening, with Holding diverting the ball into the net from close range after Per Mertesacker had towered over the BATE defence to meet Walcott’s corner.
However, the hosts soon got themselves back into the match when Ivanic headed the ball into the top corner after being found by Alyaksey Ryas’s cross from the right flank.
Walcott was denied a hat-trick by a stunning stop from Scherbitskiy from just eight yards out, before Holding sliced a volley against the post from inside the six-yard box.
However, three minutes into the second half, Arsenal netted their fourth thanks to a penalty from Giroud, who sent the ball into the bottom corner after Stanislaw Drahun was harshly adjudged to have fouled Shkodran Mustafi.
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