Olivier Giroud scores stunner as Arsenal beat Crystal Palace in thriller

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud’s magnificent volley against Crystal Palace was not just vital in the context of the game, but also the player’s season, Arsene Wenger has claimed.

The Palace defence blocked three shots from Sanchez in the early stages, the first as he sought to tee up a chance rather than blast it at the first attempt, but it was only a matter of time before Arsenal opened the scoring.

However, Arsenal were pegged back just 12 minutes later following Joel Ward’s crisp strike, with the Palace full-back skimming a 20-yard drive beyond a sprawling Petr Cech.

That was until Alexis Sanchez had something to say about things. Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Per Mertesacker all stood out with brilliant individual performances, while Olivier Giroud applied a stunning acrobatic finish to an Ozil cross.

A second looked likely as Wenger’s side – who made two changes from the West Ham defeat – enjoyed prolonged spells of possession but, against the run of play, Palace drew level. “What is important is that we show the team performance we have shown [against Palace]”. “I would like to see that again but in the end the pressure created by the crowd meant I took him off”, Wenger added.

“That’s not easy after 60 minutes when you are 2-1 up – to take off a player having quite a good game”.

Skipper Damien Delaney’s unlucky own goal ten minutes into the second half proved to be the victor after the Eagles has battled back well.

7′ – GOAL LINE CLEARANCE: Arsenal break quickly up the field and Giroud feeds Sanchez.

“Against Palace, it was good possession, to play the ball through the midfield and penetrate them, which we did really well in the first 15 minutes”. His downward header from Hector Bellerin’s cross was diverted into the net by Palace captain Delaney in the 55th minute. That tackle before half-time is not a sending off at that point but that’s his last chance, you know that’. Credit must be given to Palace and Pardew for signing Cabaye from PSG, and it seems that the French midfielder’s manager from Newcastle knows how to get the best out of him. The game ended with a 2-1 scoreline, as the north London side went back with all three points.