Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud scores with a scorpion kick in an English Premier League match against Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium in London on January 1, 2017. PHOTO/Sun Sport
London, United Kingdom, Jan 1- Olivier Giroud scored a stupendous “scorpion kick” volley as Arsenal climbed to third place in the Premier League table with a 2-0 New Year’s Day victory over Crystal Palace.
Giroud netted with a breath-taking improvised strike reminiscent of Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s recent goal for Manchester United and Alex Iwobi was also on target at the Emirates Stadium.
It left Arsenal nine points below leaders Chelsea and they were joined in the top four by Tottenham Hotspur, who replaced Manchester City in the Champions League places after winning 4-1 at Watford.
Arsenal, who were without the ill Mesut Ozil, finish the weekend three points below second-place Liverpool, with north London rivals Spurs a point back, above City on goal difference.
Armenian midfielder Mkhitaryan advanced a strong claim to the Goal of the Season award in United’s 3-1 win over Sunderland on Boxing Day, only for Giroud to better his strike just six days later.
The France striker squandered a golden early chance when he miscued from Nacho Monreal’s volleyed cross, but he atoned in memorable fashion in the 17th minute.
He was involved twice in a sweeping move that began when Lucas Perez slid in to cut out a square pass from Palace’s ex-Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini.
Hector Bellerin played the ball forward to Giroud and his clever back-heel found Granit Xhaka, who helped the ball on to Iwobi, who slipped it wide to Alexis Sanchez on the left.
Sanchez’s cross was slightly behind Giroud, but he adjusted brilliantly to hook the ball forward with his left heel, sending it sailing over Wayne Hennessey, off the bar and into the net.
Nigerian forward Iwobi doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 56th minute, heading in after Scott Dann’s attempt to block Monreal’s cross sent the ball spinning into the air.
Palace rallied, obliging Petr Cech to save from Yohan Cabaye and Andros Townsend, but new manager Sam Allardyce would not be spared from a defeat that kept his side one place above the bottom three.
