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Olivier Giroud thanks 'hand of destiny' after controversial opening goal for Arsenal against Bayern Munich

The French striker touched the ball with his hand on his way to breaking the deadlock at the Emirates

Wednesday 21 October 2015 10:32 BST

Olivier Giroud scores against Bayern Munich (GETTY IMAGES)

Olivier Giroud appeared to admit he handled the ball as he scored Arsenal's opening goal in their 2-0 win over Bayern Munich, but put it down to a "helping hand from destiny".

The French striker had only been on the pitch a couple of minutes when he connected with Santi Cazorla's free-kick. With Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer misjudging the flight of the ball, Giroud capitalised, but the ball touched his hand on its way into the unguarded net.

Thankfully for Giroud and Arsenal, the officials missed the incident and the goal stood.

Giroud, who has started mainly on the bench this term after some inconsistent displays, was grateful for a little bit of fortune as he made it three goals in his last four appearances.

"I've had a bit more luck than in recent weeks, so I'm making the most of it. For a striker, it always works in cycles and I know that. You can't start doubting yourself," Giroud told reporters after the game

"All the qualities are there - I just needed a helping hand from destiny, and tonight it worked out in my favour. It's certainly not my most beautiful goal but it's one of the most important."

Giroud's comments will lead to comparisons with Diego Maradona, who memorable thanked the "hand of god" when he scored for Argentina against England in 1986. Giroud is also not the first French Arsenal player to handle the ball in a key fixture, with Thierry Henry's memorable 'hand of frog' against Republic of Ireland in a play-off for the 2010 World Cup.

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

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1/23Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Petr Cech - 8 out of 10

Needed to be at his commanding best against the attacking wonders of Bayern, and certainly was. Saved well from Thiago on 10 minutes and carried on from there, showing a reassuring confidence from crosses. In particular a late save from Lewandowski seemed to have saved Arsenal from disappointment.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Hector Bellerin - 5 out of 10

After the unpleasant grilling he was given by Douglas Costa it is worth reminding ourselves this is a player with less than a year of first-team football to his name. And it showed, as time and again he struggled to come up with anything that could stop his opponent.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Per Mertesacker- 7 out of 10

The centre-back was at the heart of the action throughout, and had to be at his reliable best as cross after cross came towards his head. Happily for Arsene Wenger he was, clearing with whatever part of his body he had to.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Laurent Koscileny - 6 out of 10

A rather quieter night for the other centre-back, in part aided by the consistent performances of the pair around him. But yet again Koscielny scarcely put a foot wrong, and kept a careful eye on Lewandowski.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Nacho Monreal - 8 out of 10

So often tagged with the term reliable this was far more than that from the left-back. His positioning was first-rate and it spoke volumes of his performance that Muller enjoyed long periods of near anonymity.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Francis Coquelin - 6 out of 10

The centre-back was at the heart of the action throughout, and had to be at his reliable best as cross after cross came towards his head. Happily for Arsene Wenger he was, clearing with whatever part of his body he had to.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Santi Cazorla - 6 out of 10

Arsenal’s gameplan necessitated that their deep-lying playmaker play at his best to instigate passing movements. Too often he did not. At half-time he had twice given the ball away loosely in his own half. It was less of a problem in the second half but this was not vintage Cazorla.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Aaron Ramsey - 6 out of 10

A strong defensive shift from the Welshman, who tucked in well on the regular occasions when Arsenal were out of possession. This was not his usual attacking performance, but he was a vital component until picking up a hamstring injury on the hour mark.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Alexis Sanchez - 8 out of 10

Another excellent performance from Sanchez, who made as great a player as Philipp Lahm look supremely average. Wherever, whenever he just ran at defenders, creating opportunities aplenty in the process. On the rare occasions when he did give away the ball he simply turned around and won it back.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Mesut Ozil - 7 out of 10

Ozil’s revival continues, even if he was not quite able to provide a telling touch to the game. Unlike his colleagues his passing on the counter was accurate, though his eagerness to drift into space too often left him unable to get where the action was.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 6 out of 10

Kept Bernat plenty busy after his introduction, providing direct running at a time when Arsenal were running short on ideas.

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Olivier Giroud - 7 out of 10

One clear-cut chance, one goal. It may not be the most beautiful of finishes, but it was by some distance his most important in an Arsenal shirt. As his colleagues looked to stem back the tide his ability to hold the ball up was vital.

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Manuel Neuer - 5 out of 10

For 75 minutes he reminded us why he was the best keeper in the world. Then he looked like David Ospina. Saved well from Ozil early on but the diving stop from Walcott’s close range header will live long in the memory. Not as long as his blunder for Giroud’s goal though.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Jerome Boateng - 6 out of 10

The criticism of Boateng has often been that he is prone to falling asleep. And there were certainly times when he allowed himself, and Walcott, to drift away. Looked more composed in the second half, stepping forward well to cut out attacks.

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Philipp Lahm - 5 out of 10

Having spent many recent games in midfield he often struggled with the pace and aggression of Sanchez, lacking the yard of pace that made him such a dangerous right back previously.

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

David Alaba - 7 out of 10

At the home of Arsenal this man put in a performance Tony Adams would have been proud of. His reading of the oppositions attacks was outstanding, he was often the last-man between Theo Walcott and Manuel Neuer.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Juan Bernat - 6 out of 10

Arsenal focused their attack on the Bayern right, leaving Bernat with a quiet shift defensively. He did all that could be asked of him at the back and was scarcely needed going forward as Douglas Costa ran riot.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Xabi Alonso - 6 out of 10

Like Alaba he played a key role in stemming Arsenal’s counter-attacking sallies, in particular blocking off passing avenues for Arsenal’s deep midfielders to release their attackers on a regular basis.

2015 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Thiago - 6 out of 10

The most influential of Bayern’s midfielders in the early stages, he brought impressive verticality to the play, linking well with both Muller and Costa. His passing was unerringly accurate, but he was never able to play the crucial final pass.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Arturo Vidal - 5 out of 10

One of the few players in the game to have what appeared to be a genuine off-night, he simply could not get on the ball often enough to influence the game. He particularly struggled to find space from which to drive forward and it was little surprise he made way first.

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Diego Costa - 8 out of 10

A sheer joy to watch, with the pace and trickery to make Hector Bellerin look ordinary for the first time in a long while. His flicks , tricks and dribbling will remain the highlight of the night for anyone at the Emirates, has a new star been born?

Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Thomas Muller - 6 out of 10

The Emirates did not see much of Muller at his best as he sat wide on the right in what was a relatively unremarkable 4-3-3 from Guardiola. Did not drift into space as we know he can, though much of was down to the close coverage he received from Monreal.

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Arsenal vs Bayern Munich player ratings

Robert Lewandowski - 6 out of 10

Well marshalled by Mertesacker and Koscielny, but on the rare occasion she could get on the ball he reminded us why he is Europe’s most fearsome striker, forcing several good diving saves from Cech.

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Arsenal kept Bayern's in-form Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who has already scored 22 goals this season, at bay and vice-captain Per Mertesacker praised his side for a united effort as well as goalkeeper Petr Cech for some key saves.

"I think that was a team effort. It was difficult for him. He always tried to come a bit deeper to get the ball and get into the holes. I think he had a great chance in the second half but we have a great goalkeeper for him," Mertesacker said.

Cech, who was making his Champions League debut for Arsenal, said he hoped the morale-boosting win would kick-starts some winning momentum after Arsenal started with two defeats in Group F against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiakos Piraeus.

"We obviously needed to win three points and we are back in the game," the former Chelsea stopper said.

"The position has not changed but now with these three points it was crucial to win and we can carry on at the moment in the league then in two weeks we will try to do the same."

Additional reporting by Reuters

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