With Arsenal struggling to match their first-half showing, Wenger opted to introduce fresh legs in the shape of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs.
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He also needs to consider whether to buy players for the present situation or look ahead and buy players for the Championship to try to get Villa up next season. Medically, we think – my people think, he will not be ready [for Manchester City] but Alexis being Alexis, you never know.
‘It’s a busy period and we have to remain consistent through that and see where we are in the New Year.
Defeat left Villa bottom and eight points from safety and defender Joleon Lescott admitted they lacked fight to stop Ramsey making it 2-0.
It was not just Giroud who was able to celebrate a landmark achievement. The people that are in charge here have worked at Arsenal and already knew him.
His half-century goal came early and in straightforward fashion – an eighth-minute penalty following Alan Hutton’s clumsy challenge on Theo Walcott and after the referee, Kevin Friend, had initially not deemed it a foul. The importance of getting a result in Athens was reflected in the dominant and brilliant performance, and no one showed this more than Giroud.
The visitors found a crucial second goal prior to the interval, as Ramsey won possession from Gueye despite appearing to get little of the ball with the tackle, and the Welshman finished a counter-attack just seconds later by slotting home after the Villa defence had parted to gift space to Mesut Ozil.
Ozil was also singled out for praise from Wenger.
“For me, he was Man of the Match”, Henry said.
“I believe Olivier is at the top of his game”, Wenger said.
“This was the worst start we could expect in such a game”, he told the press afterwards.
Norwich are a team that we always seem to do well against in recent seasons so if omens are anything to go by hopefully we can take something against them.
As for Veretout, for him belief and confidence was key and he feels we have to play with our heads held high because he trusts that the group have the qualities to take all three points and cause what would be an upset on Sunday.
Leicester City is a point back of Arsenal and faces Chelsea on Monday.
Arsenal completed what manager Arsene Wenger described as “a flawless week” as they won 2-0 at Aston Villa on Sunday to move to the top of the Premier League. “I’m sure the manager and players individually and collectively will address that”.
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He added: “I’m happy to have a team who still create chances”. We will have to win if we want to be safe. You don’t expect that. Substitute Ayoze Perez scored three minutes into second half stoppage time after Aleksandar Mitrovic had cancelled out Eric Dier’s goal for the hosts. We need to know what was good at Southampton for us and what we didn’t do very well.
