`Perfect’ Giroud stars in great Arsenal escape

The Gunners went into last night’s match knowing they had to win by any scoreline aside from 1-0 and 2-1 and duly did so as Olivier Giroud netted a hat-trick to extend manager Arsene Wenger’s record to 16 consecutive appearances in the latter stages.

And the north London side did what they needed to do, and in emphatic fashion, as Olivier Giroud’s hat-trick ensured Arsenal finished runners-up in Group F to join Bayern Munich in going through to the knockout stages.

Olivier Giroud has scored a second goal for Arsenal to put them 2-0 up against Olympiakos in a crucial Champions League tie.

“We had a ideal performance, I think – on the mental front and on the tactical side as well”, said Wenger. Nine times out of 10 you are out [after such a poor start] and we needed something special and we needed a complete team performance, and it was. “From the first to the last minute we were a good team and I’m very proud of them”.

“We needed something special and when you deliver something special it can create positive memories for the rest of the season”, he continued.

“We were eliminated simply because Arsenal were better; they showed their level tonight and we just couldn’t make it despite a massive effort”, said the 38-year-old, whose side will now play in the continent’s second tier Europa League. “In the last few weeks, we’ve lost so many players – (Alexis)Sanchez, (Santi) Cazorla among others”, said the Frenchman. Needing a win by two goals or by scoring three or more goals, Arsenal’s task is not an enviable one. “He showed that in the game again today”.

Arsenal are used to making their lives hard in Europe, but instead of their seemingly annual heroic failure, this time they – inspired by Giroud, a man blamed for previous exits – were faultless. It was not so easy tonight in this stadium in this atmosphere and we’re really pleased to have done it now. “We made it so hard for ourselves, no-one really gave us any chance of getting through but the attitude in that dressing room was fantastic. Never in any game, in any event, did we prepare to lose and so we will not be doing that now”.

Per Mertesacker added: “It was last-gasp to go through for us”.