Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger expressed his admiration for Olivier Giroud after the striker notched his 100th goal for the club in their Europa League win over BATE.
The France international brought up his century with a second-half penalty to help secure an important 4-2 win in Belarus.
Largely restricted to the role of an impact substitute this season, the 30-year-old’s 49th-minute strike was his first competitive goal of the campaign and helped the Gunners take control of Group H.
Giroud became the 19th Arsenal player to reach the milestone, and also achieved it faster than both Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie.
“It’s a respectable and fantastic number. It’s not easy because he’s in good company when you look around him. He deserves it.”
Wenger also reserved praise for the young prospects who came into his starting XI, which featured the likes of Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Reiss Nelson, Joe Willock and an impressive Jack Wilshere.
“Joe Willock did well, Reiss Nelson did well, they all did well,” he said.
Source: Matt Dorman| SN
