Arsene Wenger Delights In Arsenal’s ‘Perfect Performance’

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger hailed Olivier Giroud’s “perfect performance” as the French striker’s hat-trick completed a remarkable escape act in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

Having been eliminated by Monaco last season, Arsenal’s reputation as serial chokers in the knock-out stages has become a burden which qualification enables them to overcome.

Giroud opened the scoring with a powerful header in the first half and then doubled the advantage in the second session with an excellent left-footed finish after being sent up by Joel Campbell.

“It doesn’t matter who we play”, he said. We had the opportunities to score but our goal was at risk.

“Whoever we get, we need to respect them well”.

With the likes of Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain pushed into second place in their respective groups, the draw for the next round looks relatively benign – if they can avoid the twin Spanish threats of Barcelona and Real Madrid.

“We had the ideal game”. That is not easy because Olympiacos are a good side.

Wenger also dismissed reports linking the club with a January move for Southampton midfielder Victor Wanyama – “I rate the player but we are not on the case” – and also insisted Jack Wilshere will not be fit before the New Year, as had been suggested.

Maxwel Cornet and Alexandre Lacazette scored to give already eliminated Lyon a consolation win, although it was all academic for Valencia anyway as Gent’s 2-1 victory at home to Zenit St Petersburg took them through. It is just the way it is now. “But the attitude in that dressing room was fantastic”. Man City got very lucky against Swansea yesterday and they come to the Emirates next week, so a thumping win today should make Arsenal favourites for that game and if we do win it, will Arsenal be the favourites for the title? We are really pleased to go through. It is the spirit that we can push on and improve.

“If you look at his numbers since he played, you look at the number of goals he has scored and the number of assists he has given, you can say it is much better than people think it is”.

“We want to go as far as we can. The squad is very good”. He plays for one of the best clubs in Europe.

“I have only had two training sessions so it is all about matches”. Sometimes I like to step back from the box.

A handsome pass from Mesut Ozil saw Aaron Ramsey in space for the first goal. His performance helped Arsenal advance to the Champions League knockout stage for the sixteenth consecutive year. “I think it can lift our season”.