Arsenal desparately needed to bounce back with a win today after our disappointment in midweek, and they managed to beat a team that has usually managed to contain us in the last couple of seasons. This has consolidated our Third Place and left us just four points behind Man City in second place.
Wenger was pleased after the game and believes that the three points today was “vital” for Arsenal’s season. “What was very important today was that we had a mentally united response and we showed that.” he said on Arsenal.com “We are proud of the response that we showed today. Our defensive concentration was at a much higher level than on Wednesday night. We know that we can do better with the ball but overall what was important for us was to respond with a win. We got it and not everybody can produce that after such a disappointment. It was vital for us, for the rest of the season, to win the game today.
“It was a great goal (by Giroud). He responded very well and I’m not happy only because he scored a goal, but also because of the workrate he put in today from the first to the last minute.”
I knew he wouldn’t drop Giroud, but the Boss was asked if he had considered it. “Not really because he’s an important player in the box with his presence up front, even defensively. The worry for me was him lasting 90 minutes. I took him off after 65 so he only played an hour the other night. All these ingredients were important in my decision. When a guy misses chances in one game, straight away to take him out would be harsh and I thought his presence would be important against Everton.”
“Olivier’s great quality is when his back’s to the wall – he has the personality and the character to respond. Because I know him better now, that’s one of the reasons why I kept him in the team. He acknowledged that he missed his game and he will respond because he has the strength to do it.”
Giroud has definitely kept up his good scoring record, despite his blip against Monaco, and he said himself that he was very glad that Wenger gave him the chance to redeem himself. “We will take it step by step because we have come back from a deep position,” he said.
“The manager gave me a big possibility to bounce back and that’s what we wanted to do together.
“We carry on our good run in the championship even if we’ve been a bit disappointed after the Champions League defeat.
“We have done well this afternoon and we started the game on the front foot. We created chances and we are pleased with this victory.”
We are all pleased Olivier. Now if you can just score a hatrick against United and another one in Monaco we will be even more pleased!