Premier League: Arsene Wenger praises striker Olivier Giroud

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says French forward Olivier Giroud deserves more credit from fans and pundits after leading the team during their "perfect week". Last weekend the Gunners moved top of the Premier League table after beating Aston Villa 2-0 and in midweek they beat Olympiakos 3-0 to reach the Champions League last 16. Olivier Giroud bagged a hat-trick in the Champions League match and also opened the scoring in Sunday's match at Villa Park. "He is at the top of his game, but is sometimes questioned," said Wenger. "Finally the numbers get people to realise he is a good player." Giroud, aged 29, has scored 50 Premier League goals until now and he is only the seventh Arsenal player to reach that landmark after Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and Theo Walcott. He has scored 72 goals in 158 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners after his move from Montpellier in June 2012. His transfer was worth 12 million pounds. Wenger says Giroud is not given the praise he deserves because he isn't a fast and explosive player. "He is more of a player who plays with his back to goal and brings other people in. Maybe he is not spectacular individually but he is very efficient and a very important player for the team. He is also mentally very strong." Olivier Giroud has scored 9 Premier League goals this season, while the goalscorers list is led by Leicester's Jamie Vardy with 14 goals. Giroud is 14/1 at Bet365 to be this season's Premier League top goalscorer.