You might think that scoring the goal voted as the best in the world would get you a game of football every now and then, and if you were Olivier Giroud you might well think that you deserved to start more games than he has been doing over the last year or so.
Arsene Wenger seems to disagree though, as he has yet to give the big France international forward a single start in the Premier League so far this season. Giroud has come off the bench eight times in EPL games this campaign, so is still a part of Wenger’s plans and the fact he did so well as a super sub last year may not have done Giroud any favours but he must feel that his talents are not being utilised enough.
Just this week that theory has been boosted in a big way for two different reasons; the first was when his scorpion kick goal against Crystal Palace was voted as the winner of the annual Puskas award and the second was the claim by the just sacked Everton boss Ronald Koeman that the failure to secure the transfer of the Arsenal striker was a big factor in the Toffees’ struggles.
Is it just that Wenger wants more pace and movement in the Arsenal attack? When the Gunners usually dominate a game and the opposing defence sits deep a target man with aerial ability is a big plus point, though, and the wide forwards like Alexis and Welbeck can offer the pace the Frenchman lacks, so is Wenger simply wasting the talents of Giroud or is he using him in just the right way?
Bob.
For the past 4 Seasons that Giroud’s been starting, we’ve all been blasting Wenger and Giroud constantly.
Now that he’s gotten a better player, y’all asking why Giroud is not starting games. SMH.
Relax, the season has lots of games, Giroud will get his chance, hell even Welbeck did. Even Walcott is doing in the EL.
You guys speak as though wenger looks at the opposition and builds his team with tactics. Truth is wenger doesnt care! He doesnt look and say oh okay, its better to play giroud against this opposition. He really doesnt care, he’s always been that way. So the reason that lacazette starts and giroud doesnt? the answer is anyones guess. Maybe because lacazette is better. Maybe because lacazette is better than giroud. Maybe because arsenal are just not good enough to feed an above average striker like the adebayor days.
How do you know that Wenger does not care?
Wenger can’t play everybody in the first team, what do you want him to do, drop Lacazette to play Giroud. For years you have been asking Wenger to sign a goalscorer and when he does sign one in Lacazette you now say why doesn’t he play Giroud more. Make up your mind with what you want !!
Giroud’s skills and movements are too limited. He saved Arsenal many times with his headers, but let’s be realistic, he would not be France’s main striker if he doesn’t play for Arsenal or other big clubs.
It is good to have tall target man like Crouch, Giroud, Benteke, Bendtner, Jancker or Carroll. But the tall target man has to be mobile, fast, aggressive and skillful, like Van Persie, Nistelrooy, Cavani, Morata or Lukaku.
That was why I thought Lacazette would struggle as Arsenal’s main striker, because Arsenal’s system like to play with long crosses and long goal kick that are targeting a taller striker. The tall target man strategy is too predictable now, Arsenal should change their system to be more suitable for Lacazette, not Giroud.
If I had to pick between Giroud & Lacazette to play, it’d be Lacazette all day long. Sorry Oil!
The games hehas started he’s been piss poor he’s been great as a sub but he can’t do it over 90 minutes. Poor decisions, poor finishing, poor build up play. As an example against Red Star he played 93 minutes of god awful football, and even prevented our other players from playing well with poor link up play. But then he had 3 seconds or even a second of brilliance and won us the game. I believe he is a great finisher and in a front three with Laca and Ozil in behind he would be marvelous, as he wouldn’t have to touch the ball until he shoots. But in a team whos passing and movement is fast and dynamic he has no place in the team until we need a late headed winner in which case he’s perfect.
Think we are very fortunate to have 2 healthy good strikers available – with such contrasting styles
Gives us lots of flexibility, some opponents may require Lac others Giroud – can also switch it with a sub if that not working. Even play both if situation demands it
It’s been many years since we had 2 good strikers available to us.
Hope we can keep Giroud happy – but honestly Wenger is doing right thing – our formation only needs 1 striker
He’s doing what he was brought in to do – Be second choice to RVP. RVP left and he became first choice.
Now he is back to second choice and plan B which is what he should have been all along.
u r wrong.wenger brought podolski for left wing.after RVP(the best arsenal stricker since i support this club) was gone he brought Giroud.Giroud was 2nd choice to poldi,gervinho,walcot
rvp spent most of his time at arsenal in the treatment room
whats that has to do with my comment?
we were talking about giroud.
if u talk about quality the RVP was better than poldi Giroud n laccazate.
Giroud got talent guys! Breaking new!
ask the norwich defenders ….