Arsenal scoop Double in Premier League awards for March - Olivier Giroud Player of the Month and Arsene Wenger Manager of the Month

The Gunners won all four of their league matches last month

Saturday 04 April 2015 15:10 BST

Olivier Giroud has won Player of the Month (Getty Images)

Arsenal have won the Premier League Double this month - with Arsene Wenger picking up Manager of the Month and Olivier Giroud claiming Player of the Month for March.

The Gunners were victorious in all four of their league fixtures last month, with Giroud scoring five goals.

The Gunners are now a point behind second-placed Manchester City with eight games remaining.

"I'm really pleased with it," Giroud told arsenal.com. "I would like to thank my team-mates and of course the fans, because it's a collective sport and I couldn't do it on my own."

Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

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1/11Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

David Ospina - 7.40/10

Liverpool owner John W Henry once asked 'What are they smoking at Emirates?'. When it came to having a puff the focus landed on Wojciech Szczesny who was dropped from the team having been caught having a crafty cigarette in the changing rooms after Arsenal's game with Southampton. It was enough for Wenger to give Ospina his chance and the Colombian has easily been more impressive than Szczesny (6.46) was.

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Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

Nacho Monreal - 7.35

There is real competition at left-back with England international Kieran Gibbs (7.04) an option, but it's Monreal who scores higher.

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Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

Gabriel Paulista - 7.46

Only signed in January, the Brazilian defender ranks as the best centre-back at the Emirates based on his performances so far.

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Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

Laurent Koscielny - 7.37

Paulista is joined by Laurent Koscielny, meaning Per Mertesacker (7.07) is the one to miss out. Calum Chambers, who made such an impressive start to the season, is on 7.05.

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Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

Mathieu Debuchy - 7.25

The Frenchman has been out since January but in the 14 appearances before then he made more of an impression than youngster Hector Bellerin (7.21) - if only just. Debuchy is nearing his return from injury just in time for the season run-in.

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Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

Mesut Ozil - 7.56

Has been much derided following his £42.5m switch from Real Madrid, but Ozil has begun to show why Arsenal were willing to pay so much money. The World Cup winner recently spoke about aspiring to be crowned the best player on the planet. He'll have to start by being the best player at Arsenal but as it stands he's the third best based on these ratings.

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Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

Francis Coquelin - 7.53

In his 12 starts since returning from a loan spell at Charlton, Coquelin has seemingly solved the desperate need for a defensive midfielder. Alternate options Mathieu Flamini (6.78) and Mikel Arteta (6.73) don't get close.

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Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

Santi Cazorla - 7.65

Unsurprisingly based on his brilliant season, Cazorla completes the midfield in this 4-3-3 line up, with the Spaniard considered the second best player of Arsenal's season so far. That means there is no place for the Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (7.20) had he been fit, Tomas Rosicky (6.73) or Jack Wilshere (6.69). But perhaps the most unexpected player to miss out if based on pre-season prediction is Aaron Ramsey, who's inconsistent performances see him score 7.02 and miss out on a place.

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Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

Danny Welbeck - 7.30

He might have scored just four Premier League goals since joining from Manchester United, but Welbeck's overall contribution sees him score enough to keep Theo Walcott (6.42) out of the attacking trio.

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Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

Olivier Giroud - 7.46

Never any doubt the French striker would be the best central striker thanks to his 13 Premier League goals and three assists.

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Arsenal's best XI of the season so far

Alexis Sanchez - 7.84

And completing the XI is of course Alexis Sanchez. The summer signing from Barcelona has been brilliant, scoring 13 goals and collecting seven assists. It makes him Arsenal's best player of the season so far.

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"It's a great honour to have been selected as Player of the Month, especially because we wanted to bounce back from the Champions League disappointment.

"That's what we've done and we've come back really strongly. We all want to finish strongly and this award will give me more confidence for the following games."

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