SUNDERLAND -- Following Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger heaped more praise on two of the Gunners most-improved players.
Olivier Giroud opened the scoring and put in a tremendous display of forward play, while Aaron Ramsey scored twice from midfield in the second half to grab the win for Arsenal and momentarily send them top of the Premier League.
“I am extremely happy with Giroud today,” Wenger said. “Not only because he scored but his overall link play is improving from game to game. I think he is becoming a very important player for us.”
With five goals in his first six games across all competitions, the 26-year-old French international striker is turning into the player everyone hoped he would be when Wenger signed him from Montpelier in the summer of 2012.
(MORE: Sunderland 1-3 Arsenal: Ramsey double sends Arsenal top)
And Welsh international Aaron Ramsey is looking like a new signing, as he also scored his fifth goal in six games as Arsenal are top of the Premier League with three wins from four.
The 22-year-old midfielder had scored five goals in his previous two seasons for the Gunners... he already has five before mid-September.
His work alongside Mathieu Flamini, Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil in the engine room saw the Gunners take Sunderland by storm in the first half, even though the Black Cats fought back after the break. But then Ramsey struck with a superb volley in the 67th minute to put them back in front before slotting in Arsenal’s third in the 76th minute to seal the deal.
Meanwhile Wenger believes Ramsey is flourishing for many reasons.
“Ramsey is definitely [most improved player] compared to one year ago he is fantastic,” Wenger said. “He has intelligence, a desire to improve and listen. He has a very learning attitude and as well he has a fantastic engine.”
However there was one negative for Wenger as in-form star striker Giroud hobbled off with an injury late.
Wenger conceded that their main man is now Giroud.
“That is my worry today after the game,” Wenger said. “We are very thin at the moment so I hope it’s not serious. He is the player at the moment for us.”