Giroud scorpion kick as good as Henry, Bergkamp specials – Wenger

Arsene Wenger says Olivier Giroud has taken a place alongside Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp as a scorer of great Arsenal goals with his scorpion kick against Crystal Palace.

Giroud opened the scoring in Sunday’s 2-0 win, flicking his left boot behind him to guide Alexis Sanchez’s cross past Wayne Hennessey and in off the crossbar.

It was a fitting moment to cap the Gunners’ 200th Premier League game at Emirates Stadium, with Wenger saying the effort deserves to be remembered among close-control marvels from Bergkamp and a host of solo wonders from Arsenal record goalscorer Henry.

Wenger said: “I’ve been spoilt in my career because I’ve had many great players and strikers.

“That [goal] is certainly in the top five.

“Bergkamp at Leicester and Newcastle, Henry against Real Madrid and Liverpool. [Nwankwo] Kanu against Chelsea…

“You cannot work on that in training because it was just a reflex. He transformed that goal into art.

“It was a surprise because of the beauty of the movement and the efficiency.

“That will be remembered as the Giroud goal that no-one will forget.

“He brings the unexpected and you come to football to get the unexpected. People come to the games to see this kind of goals.”