Stinging zinger
Wenger places Giroud’s scorpion-kick goal among Arsenal’s best
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed Olivier Giroud’s brilliant goal against Crystal Palace on Sunday as “a work of art” and one of the top five Gunners hits in his 20-year reign.
Giroud’s mid-air backflicked volley gave Arsenal the lead at Emirates Stadium and set it on course for a 2-0 victory.
The France forward’s scorpion-kick goal will undoubtedly rate as one of the goals of the season, but Wenger went one step farther by placing it in the most hallowed of company.
When Arsenal fans talk about the best goals to grace their club’s illustrious history, their thoughts turn to some of the highlights of the Wenger era — Dennis Bergkamp’s majestic strikes against Leicester and Newcastle, Nwankwo Kanu’s outstanding effort against Chelsea and numerous gems from Thierry Henry.
Wenger said Giroud — who has been on the bench at times this season — deserves his place among those greats.
“He transformed that goal into art. It was art because of the surprise and the beauty of the moment,” Wenger said.
“Every striker is remembered for one or two or three special goals, and that will certainlyremainwithhimforever.
“He brings the unexpected and we all come to football for the unexpected. People come to see these goals. I’ve been spoiled in my career with many great goals and many great strikers.
“Bergkamp and Henry scored special goals, but this one is certainly in the top five.”
Giroud admitted his goal carried a large dose of good fortune and Wenger agreed that it wasn’t something that could ever be practiced on the training ground.
“It was exceptional,” said Wenger.“Alsobecauseitwasat the end of a fantastic collective movement.
“After that it is just a reflex, but a scorer is ready to take a goal with any part of his body, with his toe or any other part.”
‘Must hang on’
Giroud has endured a difficult season for Arsenal at times.
After being left on the bench for much of the first half of the campaign, the 30-year-old has been restored to the starting lineup in the past two matches andrespondedwithalatewinner against West Bromwich Albion and Sunday’s goal for the ages.
“Maybe it is acknowledged not that enough Olivier scores important Wenger said.
“He scored against Man United with an important header,hescoredalatewinner against West Brom.”
Giroud’s heroics gave the Gunners a welcome lift as they look to bridge the nine-point gap to leader Chelsea.
“We were on a good run and then had two bad results before Christmas. It looks that we have got that out of our system now,” Wenger said.
“Chelsea wins every single game at the moment and we have just to hang on. You have goals,” to hope the results turn in your favor.”
Palace boss Sam Allardyce, without a win in his two matches since replacing Alan Pardew, is upset by a schedule that gives his players little time to recover before Tuesday’s crucial clash with fellow struggler Swansea.
“Swansea played on Saturday so they’ve got 24 hours on us. It’s unfair,” he said.
“The players haven’t enough time to recover.
“I don’t know who does the fixtures, but they should be sacked.” got