Olivier Giroud’s ‘scorpion goal’ may have been a moment of magic, but Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech insists no one should be surprised.

The Gunners striker has struggled for playing time this season, with a mixture of injury and the form of Alexis Sanchez confining him to the sidelines.

But he repaid manager Arsene Wenger yesterday with a spectacular goal as Arsenal beat Crystal Palace 2-0.

And Cech believes the Frenchman will play a big role in the second half of the season, with the Gunners chasing their first Premier League title since 2004.

Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

“I always keep saying that he’s one of those players who you love to have in the team, because he’s a handful and he can score important goals,” he said.

“As we know, he scores important goals, no matter if he starts or if he comes off the bench. He’s always a threat.

“I thought we got control of the game, we got the goal that we needed and we played really well.

“I thought we moved the ball really well, we created chances and it was the same in the second half. What was most important was that we stayed solid at the back and we didn’t concede.”

Mark Hughes insists Stoke City’s style of defending must improve if they are to battle with the Premier League’s elite over the course of a season.

The Potters were the latest recipients of a rampant Chelsea on New Year’s Eve, with Willian’s double the main instigator in an eighth defeat of the Premier League season for Hughes and co.

That was despite his side holding their own for large parts of the contest, with Bruno Martins Indi and Peter Crouch on the scoresheet, twice fighting back from being a goal down.

But defensive lapses at the wrong moments left the manager with mixed emotions at the final whistle, pleased with his side’s endeavour while ruing a lack of solidity at the back.

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

“We caused them problems once again and were very much in the game,” he said.

“Teams have struggled to score goals at Stamford Bridge and although we found ourselves behind on a couple of occasions we showed real belief and courage to get back into the game.

“Some teams come here, go 1-0 down and can’t see a way back into the game but that wasn’t the case for us.

“Overall we played well but we can’t go on defending the way we have done in recent weeks. As soon as we eradicate that from our game we’ll be okay.”

David Moyes watched his Sunderland side go down 4-1 to Sean Dyche’s Burnley at Turf Moor and the Scotsman admitted that there were almost no positives to take from the thrashing in Lancashire.

Andre Gray became the first man to score a top-flight hat-trick for Burnley since Peter Noble in 1975, with Ashley Barnes adding a fourth from the penalty spot, while Sunderland could muster only a late Jermain Defoe consolation.

And Moyes refused to make excuses for his side, who now sit 18th in the Premier League, with only Hull City and Swansea below them.

(Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)

“It was a really poor performance; I’ve got no excuses for it. It was way below the levels we should be performing at,” the former Manchester United boss said.

“The boys kept going when it was tough at the end and the game had gone from us. It was too late by then because in that 15-minute period after half time we were poor and it’s cost us.

“We have to get ready for Liverpool now, no time to dwell. We have to dust ourselves down and go again.

“The goals we conceded were terrible and we didn’t make the most of any of the chances we created.”

Southampton may have fallen to a Hal Robson-Kanu rocket against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, but Shane Long hopes his headed goal will fire him on to a prosperous 2017.

Long’s goal proved to be little more than consolation for Saints as the Baggies leapfrogged them in the table with a 2-1 win, but for the forward – who had not scored for Southampton yet this season – it could prove to be a watershed moment.

“I watched Jay take his chance well and I was the same,” said Long. “It’s been a bit of a frustrating season by getting bits here and there but I knew it was my chance to make an impression and hopefully I did. It was nice to get the goal but it’s a disappointing day.”

(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

As for Saints’ chances, Long was optimistic that they could turn around a two-game winless run in the Premier League and start to look up the table once more.

“We’re not doing too much wrong, and every goal we concede seems to go into the corners, so it’s tough,” he explained.

“We believe in ourselves and we know we’re good enough to get out of this rut that we’re in. There’s a lot of games to go and if we can go to Everton and get three points then we can kick on in the new year in good form.

“There’s been a lot of ups and downs and the confidence is growing every year and I’m delighted to be a part of that.”

West Bromwich Albion may be flying high in the Premier League but Hal Robson-Kanu believes they can kick on even further during the upcoming slate of fixtures.

A hard-fought 2-1 victory over Southampton on New Year’s Eve moved West Brom to eighth in the table and ended a run of three defeats in four games, which saw them lose to Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

On paper, the Baggies now have an easier stretch of matches with only one of their next eight Premier League opponents currently residing in the top nine.

That begins with a home clash against 19^th-placed Hull City on January 2 and Robson-Kanu is targeting back-to-back victories.

Photo credit: Getty Images

“We’ve got another big game [Hull] coming up, which we’ll be fully focused on, and hopefully we can continue picking up the points,” said the striker.

“A win would complete a good Christmas period. We’ve had a tough run of games against good opposition but now we’ve got a run of matches where we feel we can be competitive and pick up points.”

Despite signing for West Brom back in August, Robson-Kanu only scored his first goal for the club in the victory over Southampton.

The Welshman has found playing time hard to come by but is far more concerned with team success rather than personal glory.

“The most important thing [against Southampton] was the three points – we worked hard, everyone gave their all and it was important we got the win,” added Robson-Kanu.

“We’ve got a good squad here, a good set of players and everyone is working hard and contributing towards winning games. That’s what it’s about.

“We want to get as many points on the board as possible and we want to do as well as we can. That involves taking each game as it comes.”

Things may currently be looking bleak for Swansea City but Alfie Mawson is convinced a new manager can lead them to a great escape.

Swansea entered 2017 bottom of the Premier League pile after a chastening 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on New Year’s Eve – goals from Benik Afobe, Ryan Fraser and Joshua King doing the damage.

The Swans also headed into January without a manager after Bob Bradley’s 85-day reign was unceremoniously ended with his sacking on December 27.

Photo credit: Getty Images

Yet Mawson is adamant that with a different voice at the helm, and a squad that will stick together, the Liberty Stadium outfit can still avoid relegation to the Championship.

“I feel we can turn things around but we need to pull together and push on in 2017,” said the centre-back.

“We must start to get results as soon as possible because the more games that go by without us picking up points, the further we get from safety.

“Hopefully a new manager will have a positive impact and we can turn things around in the coming games.

“Things are not going right for us on the pitch and it is showing. We knew we had to go out there and put in the performances, but we did the opposite against Bournemouth.

“They came here with a game-plan and executed it well and deserved the three points.  When a team like that come and play well, they are ruthless.

“I am gutted with the goals we conceded. Every goal kills our game and the number we are conceding on a regular basis is concerning.”

There’s been plenty of doom and gloom around 2016 but Burnley striker Andre Gray will always look back at the last 12 months with huge fondness.

And the 25-year-old couldn’t have ended the calendar year in a better way, as he smashed a hat-trick in the Clarets’ 4-1 thrashing of Sunderland on New Year’s Eve.

Gray, who hit a hat-trick in his final game of 2015 against Bristol City, became the first Burnley player since Peter Noble in 1975 to score three times in a single top-flight game.

“It’s been the best year. I couldn’t have asked for anything for more and to get a hat-trick on the last day is massive,” he said.

(Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

“I’m buzzing. It’s an extra thing to add on top of it being a great week for us. I think it was three years ago I was playing in non-league.

“I never would have dreamed of scoring a hat-trick in the Premier League three years on. To do that was great. The last two games have been massive, playing teams in and around us.

“Obviously there’s a long way to go but it’s a massive step for us. It gives us a bit of breathing space, but nothing’s done yet.”

Aitor Karanka insists Middlesbrough must focus on the positives rather than the result itself after their late defeat to Manchester United on Saturday.

The Boro boss appeared set to get one over friend and former mentor Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford after captain Grant Leadbitter put the visitors ahead on 67 minutes.

But two late goals in the space of two minutes from Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba snatched the points back inthe way of the Red Devils, much to the disappointment of the travelling fans.

(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

The result drops Middlesbrough down to 16^th before Monday’s lunchtime kick off with champions Leicester City.

But Karanka was not about to find fault with his players, despite missing out on a valuable three points.

“When you score at the time that we did and you lose, it is difficult to take,” he said.

“But we have to take the good things from the game.

“When you come here and play against Manchester United in the way we did, and they finish the game with Ibrahimovic, Pogba, Mata, Martial and Rashford all on the pitch it is going to be difficult.

“The performance from everybody was amazing – we couldn’t do anything more and I am proud of them.”

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists the race for the Premier League title is still very much on, despite watching his side fall ten points behind leaders Chelsea on New Year’s Eve.

The Blues ended 2016 with a 1-0 defeat to second-placed Liverpool – Georginio Wijnaldum’s eighth-minute header separating the two sides – as Jurgen Klopp’s men moved to within six points of top spot.

But while Chelsea extended their unbeaten run to 13 games with victory over Stoke City on Saturday, Guardiola is confident they are not out of reach, insisting there is still plenty of time for Antonio Conte’s side to be reeled in.

(Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)

“We have to focus on ourselves, not what the teams around us are doing or what our targets are,” he said.

“We are only entering the second half of the season and there is still more than five months to go so it’s a bit early to be worrying too much. It’s not even January yet so there is a lot of time left.

“All we must do is concentrate on the next game which is Burnley, try to win that and then look to win two or three games in a row and carry on from there.

“We have to show strong personality, keep fighting and do what we have to do to win the games.”

Benik Afobe admitted there was no better way to sign off from 2016 than to repay manager Eddie Howe’s confidence in him with a goal.

The 23-year-old tucked home Bournemouth’s opener as the Cherries ended the calendar year in some style, a 3-0 win at Swansea to leave them ten points clear of the relegation zone.

It was just a second strike of the season for Afobe and his first in victory, with Ryan Fraser and Josh King also on the scoresheet for Howe’s charges in an emphatic display.

And while the striker, who has been called up by DR Congo for the African Cup of Nations, also boasted chances for what would have been a first double since October 2015, there was plenty of delight at a confidence-boosting display at the Liberty Stadium.

(Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)

“We played with a lot of confidence,” he started.

“We didn’t panic or go long often, we were on the same wavelength and that understanding is key – everyone can be happy.

“The forwards got on the scoresheet and the defence kept a clean sheet so that’s got to give us confidence.

“The manager showed faith in me by starting me and I wanted to repay him with a goal, so I’m happy.

“There were chances, I was disappointed when Jack (Wilshere) squared it to me on the edge of the box, I lost my composure but maybe if you’re playing week-in-week-out those chances fly in.

“But the goal was a great relief and a goal at a crucial time.”