Arsene Wenger Talks Olivier Giroud, Arsenal's UCL Hopes After Dinamo Zagreb Loss

Manager Arsene Wenger believes striker Olivier Giroud was "completely unlucky" to be sent off in Arsenal's UEFA Champions League opener. The Gunners were beaten 2-1 away from home by Dinamo Zagreb in Group F, according to BBC Sport's Mandeep Sanghera.

Already one down, the game turned when the referee dismissed Giroud with a second yellow card. Describing the challenge that prompted the second wave of yellow, Wenger wasn't convinced by either Giroud's intent or the decision, according to a transcript of his post-match interview, per the club's official site:

"I don’t think he saw the guy," he said. "It was completely accidental. It happened and I think at that moment it was not a second yellow. It has to be a foul on purpose and it was not on purpose. The referee should have given several yellows tonight based on that."

While he admitted Giroud had talked himself into trouble for the first card, Wenger refused to concede his fellow Frenchman merited a second. Instead, he queried the performance of the referee: "His second yellow card was completely unlucky to touch the guy. I do not understand the referee."

While Wenger's loyalty to his misfiring striker is commendable, there's no doubt Giroud is struggling mightily this season. Squawka Football detailed the former Montpellier man's current nightmare run of form:

The worst part is how Giroud's ineffective showings are blunting Arsenal's attacking intent. Even with 10 men, it was telling how the Gunners looked more threatening against Dinamo once Giroud had left the pitch.

With Alexis Sanchez through the middle and Mesut Ozil pushed further forward, Arsenal had more pace and fluidity in forward areas. Wenger must balance the need to rotate his squad against what type of forward line brings the best out of his underachieving team.

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Speaking of underachieving, Wenger doesn't believe this defeat will ruin his squad's chances of qualifying for the next phase of Europe's premier cup competition:

"

Mathematically we can qualify without any problem if we can produce our performances that we want at home. We have had problems starting in every competition this season. We were slow starting the Premier League and now the Champions League. I’m confident that we can put that right in the next five games.

"

Putting things right in that time frame is a tall order considering the Gunners travel to Stamford Bridge to take on reigning champions Chelsea in the Premier League. At least their next European duty won't be as daunting.

Arsenal host Olympiakos on Sept.29. The Greek side were blown away at home 3-0 by group leaders Bayern Munich, per Sky Sports.

Wenger, who dubbed events in Zagreb "a special circumstance," must find a way to get his team to show up with a strong performance when the pressure is on. Failure to do so in Croatia has left the Gunners chief with an unwanted Champions League record, according to BT Sport Football on Twitter:

Right now, Wenger should be less concerned by history and more worried about his team's increasingly sluggish start. Arsenal need to build some momentum with a winning run across all competitions.

With an attack lacking in confidence, along with a hectic run of fixtures, that won't be easy for the Gunners.