Olivier Giroud has put difficult spell behind him, says Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger is backing Olivier Giroud to enjoy a strong end to the season for Arsenal after coming through a “difficult period”.

The France international was on target as the Gunners ran out 3-1 winners over West Ham United on Tuesday night after managing just one goal in his previous seven outings.

He is a strong lad, strong mentality, a strong, positive guy

Arsene Wenger

And Wenger believes that the 27-year-old is on course to finish the campaign on a positive note after netting his 20th goal of the season against the Hammers.

“He has done well,” said Wenger “He has gone, like Mesut Ozil, through a more difficult period recently. It was a bit physical and mental as well with what happened to him.

“He is a strong lad, strong mentality, a strong, positive guy. He has a great mentality and that’s what I think got him back. He has scored 20 goals, that is a great record, and he is working very hard for the team.

“The quality of the goal [against West Ham] gives him, I think, confidence again. It gives him credibility again for people who questioned his ability, so that is important.

“For a while he played maybe too many games… but he’s a strong guy, he can cope with it. Up front it’s difficult because every challenge he goes into is physical. He’s not a guy who moves away from people to get the ball.

“He’s a guy who fights with people to get the ball. When he comes out of the game he has 50 fights behind him. That is more demanding than the guy who just runs away.”