Arsene Wenger defends 'unlucky' Olivier Giroud after Dinamo Zagreb dismissal

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has defended Olivier Giroud after picking up a first-half red card in the Gunners' 2-1 Champions League defeat at Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday

Referee Ovidiu Hategan showed the Frenchman a second yellow card on 40 minutes for a late challenge on Ivo Pinto, having earned a first booking for dissent earlier in the half.

"I don't think he saw the guy. It was completely accidental. It happened and I think at that moment it was not a second yellow," Wenger told the club's official website.

"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."

Sixteen minutes prior to the dismissal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's own goal opened the scoring for the Croatians, with Junior Fernandes then doubling the lead shortly before the hour mark.

Theo Walcott pulled one back with 11 minutes remaining, but it was not enough to prevent defeat in their Group F opener.