Olivier Giroud is the EA SPORTS Player of the Month for January.

The France international has won the official Club award for the first time after making a sensational start to the New Year.

Giroud has improved steadily since signing for Arsenal last summer and he scored five times in January in the space of three games.

His goal rush began with a brace against West Ham United - a near-post finish from a corner and a close-range strike from Lukas Podolski's cross.

Two more goals followed in the FA Cup fourth-round win at Brighton and Hove Albion, both brilliantly-taken on his favoured left foot.

A header against Liverpool in Giroud's next game - and a clever assist for Theo Walcott - helped Arsenal to salvage a point.

Giroud claimed just over 40 per cent of the vote in a competitive month, leaving Jack Wilshere to settle for second place with 34 per cent. Theo Walcott was third.

January Player of the Month - Results Player % of votes Olivier Giroud 40.9 Jack Wilshere 34.2 Theo Walcott 11.4 Other 13.5

Arsenal fan Natasha Starkey, 17, from South Mimms in Hertfordshire, has won the chance to present Olivier with his award before a home game at Emirates Stadium.

She will also receive two tickets to that match.