Arsenal avoided the embarrassment of dropping into the second tier Europa League thanks to striker Olivier Giroud, who scored his first hat-trick for the club on Wednesday.
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“His number of goals and games you have to give him credit and he’s not only a goalscorer”. “In the last few weeks, we’ve lost so many players – (Alexis)Sanchez, (Santi) Cazorla among others”, said the Frenchman.
“Well, we could! We were searching for it and we knew if we played our game, if we have a great team performance and great individual performances then we will have a chance, and we did say exactly that”, Cech said when asked if anyone could have seen that result coming. The Gunners were the only club from Europe’s top five leagues not to sign a single outfield player.
“You have to cope in our game, you are questioned and in his job, centre-forward, you are questioned even more”.
Giroud had to be patient earlier in the campaign as Walcott was preferred as Wenger’s main striker – but he has since taken his opportunity to make the position his own. Speaking before the Gunners’ Premier League trip to Aston Villa on 13 December, Wenger said Giroud’s contributions to the side up front proved he was one of Europe’s finest forwards. “I think I will have to do that again because it is so demanding now and he has a game that demands a lot of energy, that sometimes you need a breather in that squad”. It depends on the global balance of the team, it is a bit more different when Alexis is there as well.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ruled out a move for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
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While the former Arsenal defender doesn’t believe Giroud is on the long-term option for Arsene Wenger, Keown insists Giroud does have a big part to play.
