Giroud nets wonder goal as Arsenal win
WATFORD: Olivier Giroud scored a stupendous “scorpion kick” volley as Arsenal climbed to third place in the Premier League table with a 2-0 New Year’s Day victory over Crystal Palace.
Giroud netted with a breathtaking improvised strike reminiscent of Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s recent goal for Manchester United and Alex Iwobi was also on target at the Emirates Stadium.
A bashful Giroud told the BBC: “It is not difficult to say it is the best one. I was a bit lucky, but it was the only thing I could do. The ball was behind me and I tried to hit it with a backheel.”
Victory left Arsenal nine points below leaders Chelsea and they were joined in the top four by Tottenham Hotspur, who replaced Manchester City in the Champions League places after winning 4-1 at Watford.
Arsenal, who were without the ill Mesut Ozil, finish the weekend three points below second-place Liverpool, with north London rivals Spurs a point back, above City on goal difference.
Earlier, an injury-weakened Watford side put up little resistance as two goals by Harry Kane and another from Dele Alli gave Spurs a 3-0 half-time lead. Kaboul 90+1
Giroud 17 Iwobi 56 Kane 27, 33, Alli 41, 46 19 16 1 2 29 49 19 13 4 2 25 43 19 12 4 3 22 40 19 11 6 2 23 39 19 12 3 4 18 39
Alli scored again early in the second half before manager Mauricio Pochettino took off his scorers ahead of the match against leaders Chelsea at White Hart Lane on Wednesday. Younes Kaboul smuggled home Watford’s injury-time reply with their only shot on target.
Chelsea are 10 points ahead of Pochettino’s men, but Spurs will remember all too well that it was at Stamford Bridge that their title hopes were finally ended last season.
Chelsea played above themselves to deny their North London rivals the win they needed to maintain their pursuit of Leicester City. Now Tottenham will be keen to end Chelsea’s bid for a record 14th successive victory.