Arsene Wenger said he was happy to see Olivier Giroud score his first goal for Arsenal while hailing the efforts of Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin after the duo starred for Arsenal in their win over Coventry City in the third round of the League Cup at the Emirates.
Giroud opened the scoring for his side, and despite missing a penalty, put in another solid performance up front. What will stand him in good stead and increase his confidence at his new club, however, will be the goal he scored in the 39th minute after Coventry had put up some stubborn resistance. Arsenal went on to score five more through Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Ignasi Miquel and a double from Walcott.
Wenger was relieved to see his striker finally getting in on the scoresheet. "It was in everybody's mind that the sooner he gets it the better," Wenger said. "Certainly in his mind much more than in others' minds.
"That is positive of course. It was a good finish and he is a good finisher, Olivier. At the moment I believe he is looking for confidence again and that goal will help him. I expect him to take that confidence into the Premier League."
Walcott's future has been up for much debate off late, with the 23-year-old pining for a more central role, rather than a winger's role. And after scoring two goals in a 6-1 rout, Wenger sees the eventual transition happening soon, although the Frenchman asked for patience from the Arsenal faithful over the contract situation.
"I am not against it (Walcott playing centrally), not at all," he said. "We will try. At the moment we have a big competition up front, we have a different formula and the team is doing well.
"His time will come for that and at the moment we have to be a bit patient. He is a great finisher now, Walcott, in front of goal he is absolutely amazing.
"We all want him to stay," Wenger added on Walcott's contract impasse. "I always said exactly the same. I always said let's hope that we can sign up and extend (his contract). I speak to Theo of course. To his agents? We are always in touch with them and you have to give us some time to sort that out."
Arshavin excelled in the role behind the striker, a position that most Arsenal fans have been screaming to play him in. And Wenger admitted it was the best position for the little Russian.
"Arshavin's best position looks to be behind the striker now because that's where his vision, the creative side of his game, can be very efficient," the Arsenal manager said. "When he has to work on the flank it is sometimes working against him because he has to work too hard up and down. But when he's central he always had an influence on the game."
Arsenal will look to progress further when they travel to Reading in the next round.
