Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes his French striker Oliver Giroud is on his way to confirming his status as a top class marksman after his two-goal display earned the Gunners a valuable 2-1 win against Newcastle on Saturday.
Giroud has long been something of a divisive figure among Arsenal supporters, with some endorsing Wenger's lofty assessment of the 28-year-old and others suggesting he will never emerge as a goal scorer who is capable of guiding the club to the game's biggest prizes.
Yet Wenger has claimed Giroud is proving his doubters wrong this season, as he has embarked on a run of nine goals in his last nine matches.
"I think he is one of the best strikers in the Premier League because he scores the goals, he has a presence and he's a fighter as well," Wenger told the Arsenal website. "Above all he is a team player, he fights for the team.
"He is a player who has a good mental strength because at 22 he was playing in division three [in the French league]. Now he plays at Arsenal and there is still room for improvement for him.
"He benefits from the fact that he has not started a few games at the start of the season. He has also improved his technical game. Technically he is a much better player and that's why he scores goals.
"His touch, his link-up play, his finishing, have all improved. If you saw footage of when he first arrived and watch him today it is obvious he is better."
Wenger was also delighted with his side's mental resilience, as they overcome a battling Newcastle side to secure their sixth straight Premier League win.
"I am pleased with the spirit of the team and the mental quality of the players," added the Arsenal manager.
"They are outstanding guys and it's a pleasure to see how they behave and a credit to the club as well to see that quality on the behavioral front and the desire to do well.
"I was very pleased with the resilience because it shows qualities that are important such as solidarity, the fact that we refuse to give in and on that front I think we did very well.
"We're a stronger team today than we were in September and that's down to the focus of the whole club, of the whole staff and the quality of work the whole staff puts in. Let's hope we can go from strength to strength now until the end of the season."