Olivier Giroud, who scored a Champions League hat-trick against Olympiakos last night, is the only recognised striker in the squad, although Theo Walcott – who John has doubts about – has been used an an alternative.
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Wenger also refuted newspaper claims he was set to launch a January move for Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama, despite the fact he now has four players in that position out injured – saying: “I rate the player but we are not on the case”. 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 it important that we can focus on the performance and the goals will come”, said Arsene Wenger, Arsenal Manager.
With seven key first-team players missing through injury, Giroud produced the goods when it mattered as Arsenal made light work of a seemingly hard task to seal a 3-0 win. When you do that, it creates a positive memory for the rest of the season.
With a two goal victory over Olympiacos, or a one-goal victory of 3-2 or higher, Arsenal would successfully advance out of the Champions League Group Stage.
“I’m proud of the consistency because it demands a lot of effort every day and that’s what it’s about, we have escaped and maybe it’s a lucky year for us in the Champions League”.
“We showed great spirit against Olympiakos and I think it was the flawless performance as we did not concede any goals”. He is a real handful when we need to play.
It was a result that will also spare Wenger considerable criticism following his calculated gamble earlier in the season that so almost backfired. You’ve seen teams struggle when they should go through and should be winning. If you don’t score for three games, you’re questioned again.
Those two giants aside, Arsenal could face a third La Liga side in Atletico Madrid, Manchester United’s conquerors of Tuesday night, Wolfsburg, or Zenit Saint Petersburg, who took advantage of a weak group to ease through at the expense of Gary Neville’s Valencia.
His first settled the visitors after a nervy first half hour and came when playmaker Mesut Ozil’s measured pass freed left-back Nacho Monreal to cross for Giroud to plant a downward header inside the near post.
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“It is a massive win for us, the club, the supporters and for the future because it will give us confidence”. “Whatever we did from that point we knew what it was too late”.
