Jamie Redknapp admits the Arsenal forward’s scorpion kick against Crystal Palace is the ‘best improvised’ effort he has seen, but not the best overall
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has earned plenty of plaudits for his remarkable scorpion kick against Crystal Palace, but Jamie Redknapp does not consider the goal to be in the Premier League’s top 20.
The Frenchman produced a moment of magic at Emirates Stadium on Sunday as he turned an Alexis Sanchez cross into the back of the net off the underneath of the crossbar.
Giroud: Scorpion kick my best goal
The fact that he used his heel to find the target marks his effort out as something a bit special, with the Gunners forward having to improvise on the spot as he realised the ball was dropping behind him.
Giroud admitted afterwards that he had been the beneficiary of ‘maximum luck’, but his ability and speed of thought has drawn widespread praise and sparked plenty of debate regarding the finest goals of this and any other Premier League season.
Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Redknapp concedes that the acrobatic strike was brilliant in its own right, but believes there have been a number of better efforts down the years – including Wayne Rooney’s famous overhead kick in the Manchester derby and Thierry Henry’s spectacular dipping volley which left Fabien Barthez rooted to the spot back in October 2000.
“Olivier Giroud’s scorpion kick against Crystal Palace is the best improvised goal I have ever seen,” Redknapp wrote in the Daily Mail.
REVEALED: World’s most popular club
“It wasn’t something we thought he had in his locker — it was the sort of goal you would associate more with Alexis Sanchez.
“I am taking nothing away from Giroud but his strike does not make my top 20 Premier League goals.
“There is always an element of luck with those sorts of goals.
“As good as it was, I wouldn’t put it in the same bracket Thierry Henry’s volley against Manchester United, Wayne Rooney’s overhead kick against Manchester City or Dele Alli’s flick and volley last year against Crystal Palace… and the list goes on!”
Giroud proving he must start for Arsenal
Unfortunately for Giroud, he is not even the first player this season to score with a scorpion kick, with Manchester United’s Henrikh Mkhitaryan having beaten him to the punch by some six days.
The France international is, however, highlighting his value to the Arsenal cause and will care more about netting in back-to-back fixtures than his standing on any all-time chart.