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Agence France-Presse

Arsene Wenger hailed the performance of stand-in Arsenal captain Olivier Giroud after his late goal sealed a 2-1 FA Cup third round win at Championship side Preston North End on Saturday.
The Gunners managed to complete a comeback victory to go with their remarkable 3-3 draw at Bournemouth earlier in the week, a game in which Giroud also scored a late, vital goal.
Wenger had also made his countryman captain for the trip to Deepdale and he explained: “He has scored many many goals recently. I think in the squad everybody contributes and it is not just 11.
“At the moment he is in good form and in the last month he has scored goal after goal so I named him captain as I like to rotate it a bit.

“He went through a period where he was in discomfort as he didn’t play and during this period, which was quite long, he kept his focus and worked so I thought he has shown leadership qualities, which is why I made him captain.”
There was also good news for another Arsenal forward, Danny Welbeck, who returned as a late substitute, his first competitive football in eight months after recovering from a knee ligament injury.
FA Cup round-up: Rooney equals record in Man United romp, Giroud late show saves Arsenal
“It is a great moment as he has been out for such a long time, just for him to get 15 minutes was great,” said Wenger.
“I had a hesitation, but he thought he had 20 minutes in his legs and in the end he nearly scored so that is good.”

One more strong team character for coming back in the game! Big support from our fans! Nice to see my man @DannyWelbeck back on track! #COYG pic.twitter.com/MuL49u3Ktd
— Olivier Giroud (@_OlivierGiroud_) January 7, 2017

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But the victory disguised a dreadful first half showing from Wenger’s side who were fortunate to only trail to a Callum Robinson goal at the interval.
An equaliser from Aaron Ramsey within a minute of the restart was the beginning of a vastly-improved second half showing from the Premier League side.
‘It’s not fair’: Arsene Wenger rues fixture pile-up after Arsenal stage escape
“Yes, I was angry,” said Wenger of his half-time reaction. “We are top-level Premier League and we were dominated in the first half, Preston had chances and we were just not at the pace of the game that the game demanded. We didn’t want to go home and be out of the cup.
“I’ll keep what I said quiet, but we were not at the races in the first half and we were beaten everywhere. Not compact, we didn’t win duels and were outplayed.

“But sometimes when you come out of Christmas and you think it’s going to be a bit easier, it’s difficult in the FA Cup.
“You do not want to have that kind of performance but this team responds when they are in trouble. Maybe physically they struggled to get into the game but they want to do well.
Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud seizes the moment to remind Arsene Wenger of his worth
“Since the start of the season we have had many many many comebacks and many goals in the final minutes.”
Ramsey’s first goal of the season was another boost for Wenger.

“We spoke about that many times, getting in dangerous situations,” said the manager of Ramsey’s superb strike for the equaliser.
“One of his qualities is getting in dangerous situations and sometimes he felt he lost a bit of confidence to finish. But hopefully this goal will give him the confidence to get many more.”
Olivier Giroud scorpion-kick goal against Palace a work of art, glows Arsene Wenger
Preston’s superb performance eventually ended in disappointment for their manager Simon Grayson who will now concentrate on his side’s hopes of winning a place in the Championship promotion play-offs.
“It was difficult to know what to say to the players,” said Grayson. “I was proud but we wanted to win, or at least draw, the match and we didn’t get what we deserved.”

Arsene Wenger hails captain Olivier Giroud after new Arsenal late show

Arsenal's Olivier Giroud scores the winner against Preston North End. Photo: Reuters

Britain Football Soccer - Preston North End v Arsenal - FA Cup Third Round - Deepdale - 7/1/17 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and Preston North End manager Simon Grayson Action Images via Reuters / Alan Walter Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Britain Football Soccer - Preston North End v Arsenal - FA Cup Third Round - Deepdale - 7/1/17 Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey celebrates scoring their first goal Reuters / Andrew Yates Livepic EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.

Arsenal's English striker Danny Welbeck (R) evades a tackle from Preston's Irish midfielder Alan Browne during the English FA Cup third round football match between Preston North End and Arsenal at Deepdale in north west England on January 7, 2017. Arsenal won the game 2-1. / AFP PHOTO / Lindsey PARNABY / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. /

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Olivier Giroud shakes hands with  manager Arsene Wenger  after being substituted. Photo: AFP


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Football

Frenchman nets another late winner as Gunners edge out Championship side Preston North End in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday


Arsene Wenger hails captain Olivier Giroud after new Arsenal late show

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Frenchman nets another late winner as Gunners edge out Championship side Preston North End in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday

Frenchman nets another late winner as Gunners edge out Championship side Preston North End in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday