Sunday 1 January 2017 19:17, UK
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised Olivier Giroud for his world class finish in the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Giroud scored a scorpion-like goal in the first half at the Emirates, flicking the ball into the top corner with his backheel after Alexis Sanchez's cross was directed slightly behind him.
Wenger said the reflex was fantastic, and says the goal is part of what makes football great.
He told Sky Sports: "It was a great counter attack at great speed, and in fact the ball was kicked behind him and he had that reflex that surprises everybody who knows football and is what makes football great.
"It's a surprise, of course a fantastic goal. I was a bit spoilt over the year by that exceptional quality that everybody had.
"It's a reflex, and I think all of us can score this kind of goal, at the moment you have the strength, power and mental reflex.
"Olivier is very good in front of goal on crosses, but I've never seen this type of goal from him."
Wenger was delighted with how Arsenal controlled the game at the Emirates, and said his side need to keep performing with Chelsea winning their last 13 games and holding a six-point gap at the top of the Premier League.
"Overall I believe we controlled the game, we had a bit of a difficult patch in the second half with a few corners," Wenger said.
"I was very pleased with the pace of our game, the speed of passing and movement, our game is based on that. For long periods we had a good mixture of possession and penetration.
"At the moment Chelsea is in front of everybody, but all the others try to hang on, not to give any ground away, and at the moment they manage to do that, when they are expected to win they win.
"You have to just focus and try to win the next game and hope that some others will drop points."
