WENGER SALUTES ‘FIGHTER’ GIROUD

London, Dec. 27:

Arsene Wenger hailed Olivier Giroud’s fighting spirit after the Arsenal striker marked his first Premier League start of the season with the winning goal against West Bromwich Albion.

Giroud headed home four minutes from the end of a game that had seemed destined to finish goalless at the Emirates Stadium.

Before Monday’s 1-0 victory, Giroud had come off the bench 10 times in Premier League games this season and scored three goals, making his only club starts in the Champions League.

But Gunners boss Wenger insisted that Giroud had not had anything to prove to him despite his repeated absence from the starting line-up. “He always makes a point when he comes on because he has scored many times when he comes in,” Wenger said.

“He has qualities in our squad that are needed and that the other players have not. He’s a fighter too, Olivier, and has a fantastic mentality.

“It has been frustrating for him because he didn’t always play but I think we have an honest relationship.

“I have big respect for him and he knows that he was not always playing but despite that he kept a strong motivation level.

“Part of the job of a player is to be always ready, the players who are always ready will be there and the players who feel sorry for themselves get their chance and they give you one more reason to justify why you didn’t select them. The fighters are always ready.”