Arsene Wenger: 'Olivier Giroud is mentally strong'

Olivier Giroud gestures for the bill during the FA Cup game between Hull City and Arsenal on March 8, 2016
© AFP
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger describes Olivier Giroud as "mentally strong" despite the striker's scoring duck in the Premier League.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has backed Olivier Giroud to return to form sooner rather than later after providing an assist in his side's 1-0 victory over Norwich City.

A cushioned header from Giroud set up Danny Welbeck who volleyed into the bottom corner, and although the Frenchman is without a goal in the Premier League since the middle of January, Wenger says that he retains faith in the forward.

Wenger told the club's official website: "A striker wants to score goals and when he doesn't, is it pure confidence or is it just to think, 'How can I score again? They need goals.

"But he responds, he's a guy who is mentally strong. He gave an assist, I put that in the same category as a goal."

Giroud will be hoping to retain his place in the starting lineup when Arsenal play Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

A fan holds up an itimidating piece of A4 paper in protest at Arsene Wenger during the Premier League game between Arsenal and Norwich City on April 30, 2016
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester372311367353280
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs361913467283970
3Arsenal361910759342567
4Manchester CityMan City361971068383064
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd36189944311363
6West Ham UnitedWest Ham361514761471459
7Southampton361691153391457
8Liverpool3515101059481155
9Chelsea361212125751648
10Stoke CityStoke37139153954-1548
11Swansea CitySwansea371210154151-1046
12Everton361014125652444
13Watford35128153642-644
14Crystal Palace37119173847-942
15West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom371012153347-1442
16Bournemouth37119174464-2042
17Sunderland36811174360-1735
18Newcastle UnitedNewcastle37810193964-2534
19Norwich CityNorwich3687213562-2731
RAston Villa3738262772-4517
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