Wenger praises Giroud's 'perfect touch' after maligned striker shows his classy side

By Jim Van Wijk, Press Association

Published: 21:10 EDT, 15 April 2014 | Updated: 21:12 EDT, 15 April 2014

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed the 'perfect touch' of striker Olivier Giroud after his sublime finish and a double from Lukas Podolski gave the FA Cup finalists a 3-1 win over West Ham to move back up into the top four of the Barclays Premier League.

After a slow start following their nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out win over Wigan at Wembley on Saturday, which saw Giroud fluff a great chance to put the hosts ahead, West Ham took the lead through Matt Jarvis on 40 minutes.

However, German forward Podolski quickly levelled before half-time, with Giroud's superb control and close-range finish putting them in front on 55 minutes.

Class act: Olivier Giroud fired Arsenal ahead with a magnficent strike

On strike: Giroud gave Arsenal a lead that they never looked like relinquishing

Another powerful strike from Podolski with 13 minutes left secured all three points which saw Arsene Wenger's side move back up above Everton, who host Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

Wenger was impressed with the composure of Giroud's finish, when he held off both Winston Reid and Andy Carroll to take down a high ball from Thomas Vermaelen on his left foot before rolling it between the goalkeeper's legs with his right.

'It was a perfect first touch,' said Wenger.

'You need that if you want to score the goal. What I like is that he used his upper body first to make some space and, despite that, he managed to have a great first touch and after that he finished well.'

Finding form: Lukas Podolski celebrates scoring one of his two goals in Arsenal's 3-1 win over West Ham

In the box: Podolski got on the end of a Santi Cazorla cross to equalise for the Gunners before half-time

Giroud paid his own tribute to the victims of Hillsborough when he kissed the black armband and looked to the heavens as the Arsenal players celebrated.

'Olivier is a great guy with a great mentality,' said Wenger of the France forward whose personal life put him under media scrutiny earlier in the season.

'He has gone through a difficult period, as you know, and I think it affected his game for a while and his confidence. You could see that he was refreshed tonight and that he was up for it.

'At half-time he came in, he was very, very down because he missed a great chance in the first half, but he responded very well in the second half because he's mentally a strong guy.'