Olivier Giroud scores second for Arsenal

Arsene Wenger has praised Olivier Giroud for putting in a proper striker’s performance in Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Olympiacos which saw them into the knock-out stages of the Champions League. We had the chance to prove to everyone that we have the qualities of being a top team in the Champions League.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger described his side’s performance in their 3-0 win over Olympiakos as “perfect”.

“This result makes us stronger and strengthens our belief”. When you do that, it creates a positive memory for the rest of the season.

“I’m very proud of the team because we needed to be right mentally and tactically and at 2-0 we needed to push for a third because it was unsafe”. In the second half we knew we needed a second for the result and obviously we had a great goalscorer today in form and we know that when we score goals that everything is easier.

“That’s what you want going into the Christmas period because it is the time the Premier League really maps out where you are going to be at the end of it. So come January, we will see how it goes”.

And Giroud’s hat-trick in Greece – his first for Arsenal – completed the job as the Gunners progressed to the last 16 due to their superior head-to-head record over their opponents. “He showed skill and character…”

Arsenal can match anyone in the Champions League but must avoid the same complacency they showed versus Monaco last term, says Theo Walcott. He scored a header, one from great pass from Joel Campbell and a penalty.

“That is the spirit we want in this team”.

The Gunners dramatically qualified for the last 16 of Europe’s elite competition by scoring three goals away from home, eliminating the Greek side.

Arsenal can now face Andre Villas-Boas’ Zenit St Petersburg, Manchester United’s conquerors Wolfsburg or the Spanish trio of Real Madrid, Barcelona or Atletico Madrid in the next round.

Arsenal also became only the eighth side in Champions League history to qualify with just three points or fewer from their opening four matches. You could tell by the atmosphere here that they are a massive part of this team. Even when we scored, we didn’t go all out attack. I put my focus on staying in the competition.