Olivier Giroud strutted out of St James ' Park and was the last player to board Arsenal 's team bus , having been first to pretty much everything else for his team during a hard-earned win on Tyneside . It brought two more goals for the Frenchman against Newcastle . That 's 17 in 26 games this season and 10 in his last 12 , one of the best strike rates in Europe . While Harry Kane is cherished by supporters down the road at Tottenham , some Arsenal fans have yet to embrace Giroud fully . The statistics speak for themselves , however . Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has been dubbed 'world class ' by his manager Arsene Wenger . The Frenchman scored two goals for Arsenal as the Gunners ran out 2-1 winners against Newcastle United . Wenger believes that Giroud has developed significantly since joining Arsenal back in 2012 . Olivier Giroud now has eight goals in six games against Newcastle , including scoring with all five headers on target against them in the Premier League . And even though Giroud is 29 in September , Arsene Wenger believes the best is yet to come from a 6ft 4in striker who developed late and was still playing lower league football in France as recently as 2010 . Asked if Giroud is world-class , Wenger said : ' I think so and he is scoring the goals to prove it . But I believe there is still room for improvement . 'Technically , he is a much better player than he was . His touch , his link play , his finishing , they have all improved . If you saw footage of him when he first arrived and now , it is obvious he is a better player . 'He is a fighter as well and a player with good mental strength . At 22 or 23 he played in Division Three in France , and now he is at Arsenal . ' Giroud is refusing to write off Arsenal 's chances of a late push for the Premier League title this season . Giroud 's goals gave Arsenal a sixth straight league win and kept them on the fringe of the title race . But you wonder how much closer they would be had he not spent three months on the sidelines after breaking his leg at Everton in August . Wenger 's side won only three of nine league games in his absence . While retaining the FA Cup would appear to represent their best chance of a trophy this season , the former Montpellier man has not given up the title chase just yet . 'We need to win every game and that 's what we want to do — step by step , ' said Giroud . 'You never know if City or Chelsea will miss one of these steps . We 've got to be here with great belief and faith . ' Giroud 's brace against Newcastle has brought his tally for the season up to 17 goals in 26 games . Arsenal still had to hold on in the face of a fierce second-half fightback from Newcastle that revived memories of a famous 4-4 draw in 2011 . It was not enough to prevent a third defeat in a row for the home side , placing even more importance on the forthcoming Tyne-Wear derby with Sunderland . Having admitted in the build-up to this game that he expects a clear-out of players in the summer , caretaker boss John Carver is already looking forward to some of the big signings coming through the door . 'Without naming any names , I 've seen some of the players they are talking about and I 'm quite excited about them , ' said Carver . 'It 's major work that has to be done , we know that . I know the type of players the fans like and they 're the ones on the list , absolutely . ' Newcastle head coach John Carver insists that the club will strengthen their squad with top players .
Olivier Giroud scored twice in Arsenal 's seven-1 win over Newcastle . He has been described as 'world class ' by his manager Arsene Wenger . Arsenal are currently third in the Premier League table . They are only 2 points behind leaders Chelsea . Giroud is not writing off his team 's title chances just yet .