Giroud ‘needed’ to score, says Wenger after Arsenal beat Villa

Arsene Wenger admits that Olivier Giroud “needed” to find the net after scoring Arsenal’s second goal in Monday’s 2-1 win at Aston Villa.

The France international fired home his ninth Premier League strike of the season after being found by Jack Wilshere to put the Gunners 2-0 up at Villa Park.

For the team it’s great and it shows as well that he is refreshed

Arsene Wenger

The 27-year-old went seven games with out a goal before netting the winner at Newcastle in December, and Wenger was delighted to see the striker get on the score-sheet for the first time in 2014.

“He needed a goal and I believe when you want to do well for the whole season, your centre forward needs to score goals,” Wenger told Arsenal Player.

“For the confidence it’s good, for the team it’s great and it shows as well that he is refreshed.

“He had problems to finish in the second half, at least in the first half he looked fresh.”

Wenger also praised his defence for holding firm through six minutes of stoppage time to earn a win which moved them back to the top of the Premier League table.

“I would say our centre backs, our defence, kept us through that difficult period and they did extremely well,” Wenger said. “I am very pleased with that, when we are under pressure we can respond.

“We had two halves I think. One about playing and the second half was about fighting, we were maybe too cautious in the second half, they didn’t want the ball enough and wanted just to keep the score.”