Arsenal 2 - 0 Crystal Palace

Olivier Giroud ushered in 2017 in style with a truly breathtaking scorpion kick as we beat Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day.

The France international was the hero last time out as his 87th-minute winner helped us to a Boxing Day victory over West Bromwich Albion - but this effort was the sort of goal that defines a career.

Giroud - having raced upfield to get on the end of a sweeping counter-attack - swivelled to meet Alexis’ ball in from the left of the box, before flicking it nonchalantly with the outside of his boot and into the roof of the net.

It was a magnificent goal, and one that will spark debates as to whether it is the best we have ever seen at Emirates. The reaction of the home crowd was one of jubilation, mixed with sheer disbelief.

We could not add to our advantage before the interval despite going close through Mohamed Elneny and Alexis, but continued to up the ante after the restart.

Our reward came in the 56th minute as Alex Iwobi scored the first headed goal of his career after reacting quickest to a scuffed clearance in the area.

Petr Cech was called on to make three important saves in quick succession soon afterwards, but in truth we were never seriously tested thereafter as we eased to our first three points of the new year.

But it was Giroud’s goal that will live longest in the memory. What a way to start his - and our - New Year.
 

News by Arsenal.com

Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1617/post/first-team/arsenal-2-0-crystal-palace-report#EJ2KrKmfs50uqKRh.99