Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has lauded Olivier Giroud for having a strong personality.
The French striker was in the headlines earlier this season after troubles in his personal life emerged which Wenger believes had a negative effect on his form.
On Tuesday night, Giroud produced a brilliant piece of control and a thunderous finish to edge the Gunners ahead in their eventual 3-1 home win over West Ham United before kissing his black armband and looking to the skies in his own tribute to the Hillsborough victims.
Wenger praised the France international for his efforts and was also gushing in his words when speaking of the 27-year old on a personal level.
"Olivier is a great guy with a great mentality," said Wenger of Giroud who now has 14 league goals this season.
"He has gone through a difficult period, as you know, and I think it affected his game for a while and his confidence.
"You could see that he was refreshed tonight and that he was up for it.
"At half-time he came in, he was very, very down because he missed a great chance in the first half, but he responded very well in the second half because he's mentally a strong guy."
