Arsene Wenger believes a week off can help Gunners beat City

He also netted a hat-trick at Olympiakos on Wednesday to help Arsenal reach the Champions League last 16. Arsenal’s season has had a distinctly “Arsenal” feel to it at times this season.

“I know that Villa was fighting to survive and it was maybe a set of important points to win against a team low on confidence”.

Micah Richards was missing through injury, but Villa have depth at centre-back with Jores Okore and Liverpool loanee Tiago Ilori (remember him?) returning.

With their first real attack the Gunners were awarded a penalty, but it was referee Kevin Friend’s actions that caused some controversy. A change of mind gave Giroud the chance to give Arsenal the lead and he steered a left-footed shot past Brad Guzan as the Aston Villa goalkeeper dived the other way.

The 29-year-old was the difference in the game against Olympiacos, scoring each of the three goals.

He lies just behind club legends Thierry Henry and Ian Wright, and ahead of top Arsenal strikers like Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie.

The Gunners were comfortable as the home side rarely threatened. Ramsey added the second goal after a brilliant move seven minutes before the break.

Ramsey won the ball himself in the middle of the park, and Villa couldn’t keep up as Ozil carried the ball forward, and with the goal gaping, the German unselfishly squared for Ramsey to tap home.

Ozil’s dummy as he ran onto Walcott’s pass sold the Villa defence and he was unselfish enough to pass for Ramsey to tap in.

However, the Gunners didn’t have to wait too long for their second – a typical Arsenal goal on the counter. It was also Özil’s 13th assist of the season. “We need more performances like that”. Wenger’s men have come close before, but have always been bettered by someone more consistent.

It is therefore, Arsenal’s best chance to win their first league title since 2004.

Giroud’s penalty was his ninth league goal of the campaign, and fifth in his last three matches in all competitions. We’ve scored eight goals and I think it was a fantastic week.

For years it was the lack of a trophy, as they blithely and ignorantly ignored the fact that Arsene Wenger had no money but was still managing to beat big spending clubs around us to the Champions League places.

He said: “I believe he’s at the top of his game”.

Theo Walcott believes Petr Cech has transformed Arsenal’s defence after he equalled the Barclays Premier League clean sheet record. Now we have games that we have to win against direct opponents.

” It is mentally good because we had a good week”.

“We did a great job in the Champions League and we really wanted to finish the week with a win to be top of league before Leicester’s game against Chelsea”.