Arsenal's Olivier Giroud throws his shirt to fans as they celebrate after the final whistle of their English Premier League soccer match against Manchester City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northern England January 18, 2015. Arsenal won 2-0.
Arsenal's Olivier Giroud throws his shirt to fans as they celebrate after the final whistle of their English Premier League soccer match against Manchester City at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, northern England January 18, 2015. Arsenal won 2-0. REUTERS/Phil Noble

Four key members of the victorious Arsenal side at the home ground of the defending champions Manchester City spoke to the official Arsenal website after the match. They all spoke effusively of the strategy that the team took to defend as a group by stopping the City midfielders from playing in the channels and counter attacking to score goals.

Olivier Giroud, who scored the second goal by heading in a Santi Cazorla free kick stressed on the momentum that the team has gathered off late as very important to push them into the top four. He was also full of praise for his team's defenders. "We knew that they liked to play behind our midfielders with David Silva and Sergio Aguero, so we were aware of that and always created chances up front", Giroud said about the strategy that they had employed.

Santi Cazorla, Arsenal's star man of the night was also full of praise for the fight that Arsenal gave City. Incidentally he opened the scoring for Arsenal after Vincent Kompany brought down Nacho Monreal and the referee awarded a penalty for the foul. He also praised Giroud for the qualities that he brings to the side and the options that it opens for the team in the air, especially from set pieces.

Per Mertesacker, Arsenal's stand in captain for the night was also all praise for the defensive set up of his team. "Every player was up for proper defending from front to back. I think we have to praise the whole unit", Mertesacker said while summing up the display. He termed it a mature display as his team is not known to set up a defensive display. He put that down to the thinks that they had learned from mistakes last season.

Francis Coquelin insisted that his team must build on this victory to bigger and better things. "We need to move onto the next one because there is no point winning here and then losing at home in the next game", was Coquelin's caveat to his team. Arsenal has won the last three games on the trot and face Brighton and Hove Albion next Sunday for a FA Cup fixture.

To contact the author of this article email a.biswas@IBTimes.com.au

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