olivier giroud might have played a key role in arsenal's champions league exit against monaco, but the french forward's form otherwise is as good as any other striker in europe only lionel messi can match his statistics in 2015 giroud has 11 goals in 15 games so far this calendar year, a ratio that puts him ahead of ballon d'or winner cristiano ronaldo as one of europe's leading marksmen and his strikes have helped arsenal to become the barclays premier league's form team their french centre forward's impressive streak has helped arsenal move to within a point of second placed manchester city and they look all but certain to qualify for the champions league in one of the most competitive battles for the top four in recent years olivier giroud has been in fine form for arsenal so far in 2015, notching 11 goals in just 15 appearances  cristiano ronaldo, real madrid's prolific forward, has a lower goals per game rate than giroud in 2015  player  appearances  goals  goals/game  giroud  15  11  073  ronaldo  15  10  066  ronaldo and messi are generally seen as unachievable benchmarks for most players in terms of goalscoring, but giroud is holding his own with the portuguese forward messi, though, has 20 in 19 games averaging 095 goals per game even the prolific harry kane at north london rivals tottenham hotspur cannot quite match giroud his 13 goals in 18 games in 2015 giving him a rate of 072, just slightly lower than the 28 year old frenchman after scoring both goals in arsenal's 2 1 win over newcastle united, giroud's efforts are being appreciated by his manager as well as his critics giroud gets ahead of newcastle defender mike williamson to score the first of his two goals at the weekend  the french striker scored a second goal within four minutes, nodding in a corner with ease  asked if giroud is world class, manager arsene 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' arsene wenger now ranks giroud as world class and says he has improved since joining arsenal  giroud blows a kiss at full time against newcastle, and his form has earned him a lot of love of late 
olivier giroud cristiano ronaldo french arsenal newcastle lionel messi europe arsene wenger giroud
olivier giroud has a better goals per game ratio than cristiano ronaldo  french forward scored twice in arsenal's 2 1 win over newcastle  lionel messi is the only big name striker in europe with a better ratio  arsene wenger dubbed giroud as 'world class' after newcastle game 