Olivier Giroud’s stunning scorpion kick against Crystal Palace is a definite contender for goal of the season but a certain Arsenal defender is convinced that his goal against Southampton was better.

Laurent Koscielny scored a bicycle kick against Southampton back in September in a match Arsenal ended up winning 2-1.

The 28th minute goal was a beauty. An Arsenal corner bounced between a couple of heads before the centreback managed to swing his leg up and thump the ball off the ground and into the net.

Kos, who’s only scored against Burnley since, believes that his goal was better because it took more skill, while Giroud’s was just ‘lucky’.

“I think mine is better because I’ve trained a lot with that skill!” the defender told Arsenal’s Weekly podcast. “Every day, just before the warm up, I do it one or two times to practise my rabona.

“Oli’s was very lucky and he can try that 10 times but I’m not sure he’d score it 10 times. Mine is more difficult because I needed time to progress with my skills.

“He had a little bit of luck for that goal but he tried it, so it’s a nice goal. The goal was very quick because we started in our box and arrived in their box within four or five passes. The cross was behind Olivier but when you are confident, and I think he is, you can try those things.

Laurent Koscielny v Southampton
Arsenal’s French defender Laurent Koscielny (R) scores their first goal with this overhead kick during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Southampton at The Emirates Stadium in London, on September 10, 2016. (Photo credit should read IKIMAGES/AFP/Getty Images)

“He’s been building his confidence over the course of the season by scoring lots of goals, and he was able to use it to try that skill. It was amazing because it hit the bar on the way in. It was behind him, he tried the scorpion kick and it worked. That’s why it’s amazing.

“It was unbelievable and I’m happy for him because I think it can compete to be one of our best goals this year. It’s also good for his career to be able to score goals like this because they’ll be remembered at the end of his career.”

The two France internationals are friends and Kos is known for having a sense of humour, so his comments on his teammate’s goal against Palace, I imagine, are strictly tongue-in-cheek.

Giroud’s goal, for me, was better as it wasn’t just about the finish. The build-up play was 100% Arsenal and, if possible, it made it even more beautiful.

Olivier Giroud goal v Crystal Palace
during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at Emirates Stadium on January 1, 2017 in London, England.

Whether the striker can indeed replicate it, we’ll just have to wait and see. He’s already scored nine goals in all competitions so I would bet against him trying!