Arsene Wenger hails Olivier Giroud after France striker's 50th Arsenal goal

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud gets the thumbs up from Arsene Wenger

ARSENE WENGER insisted people are finally beginning to see what he has known all along after his side went top of the Premier League - that Olivier Giroud is a top-class talent.

The French striker followed up his hat-trick against Olympiakos with his 50th Premier League goal as Arsenal won 2-0 against bottom-of-the-table Aston Villa in Birmingham.

And Wenger maintained that while he might not set other people's pulses racing with the spectacular, his goal tally proves what a class act he is.

"Olivier is at the top of his game. He is questioned sometimes but finally the numbers get people to realise that he's a good player," said Wenger.

 

"He has improved as well technically, his link play is better. He's not an electric pace player. He's a player who likes to play with his back to goal and bring people in, so he's not maybe spectacular individually.

"But he's a very efficient and important player for the team, and he's mentally very strong."

Giroud has had his fair share of doubters but his half-century for Arsenal put him in exalted company alongside Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp and Theo Walcott.

 

It also helped to lift them above Manchester City to the top of the Premier League table in a week that has also seen them secure progress to the last 16 of the Champions League.

"I was a bit anxious because we gave a lot on Wednesday night and we came back very, very late on Thursday morning and I knew that Villa are fighting to survive," said Wenger.

"We didn't manage to score the third goal but overall it was a controlled performance and a great week for us. Don't worry, I had a few bad weeks already as well - sometimes it balances a little bit."

Remi Garde maintained the next fortnight could shape Villa's season with games against three teams directly above them in the league table in Newcastle, Sunderland and Norwich.

"Of course the games are very important for us - they are must-win games for us," he said. "But I see them more as an opportunity than a problem. They could define our season though so we have to be ready."