Arsenal legend claims Giroud deserves first-team role

Alan Smith has claimed that Olivier Giroud deserves a first-team role for Arsenal, whilst moving to praise his professional attitude this season.

The French striker was given his first Premier League start of the campaign yesterday and Arsene Wenger reaped the rewards as his striker found the winner late into the match.

The Gunners boss will now have to make a decision on whether to select Olivier Giroud for the New Years Day clash at home to Crystal Palace, although that selection may pivot on the fitness of Theo Walcott.

The former Southampton youth product was ruled out of yesterday’s game, but had previously been a key figure in the system which accommodated Alexis Sanchez in a central role, and his absence may have played a big part in Giroud getting the nod to lead the line.

Regardless of the thought process which led to the French striker returning to the starting line-up, former Arsenal forward Alan Smith, who himself bagged 86 league goals for our side previously, insists that he is well deserved of his place in the first-team.

“He’s chipped in with a few important goals,” he said.

“He won’t be happy with not playing regularly.

“It’s important for the players who aren’t playing to have a good attitude and Olivier has a good attitude.

“Sanchez has started from day one and has done very little to force Arsene Wenger from changing anything.

“He (Giroud) came back late from the Euros so fitness wise he wasn’t right.

“It’s horses for courses, sometimes he (Wenger) might fancy Giroud is a good option to have to go direct.

“Having scored now it will be interesting to see what team he picks and see if he keeps his place, because he warrants it.”

Giroud scored the only goal of yesterday’s match, as well as coming off the bench to snatch the equalising goal at Manchester United, and scoring a brace when coming from the bench away at Sunderland with the scores tied at 1-1. That’s seven points he earned us which could have easily been two without his net-finding.

Does he deserve a run of action in the first-team now? Will he return to the bench if Walcott is fit to play on NYD?

Pat J

Tags Alan Smith Arsenal Giroud

6 Comments

  1. He might get a start and we know that but the thing is that he’s just so predictable.He scored a good goal but if he hadn’t I would’ve said he played badly.He would start a scoring run then go on a non scoring run.He has himself to blame for not making himself Arsenal’s number one main man striker for all these years.Walcott and Sanchez were considered for that role actually due to his poor quality.

  2. I love Giroud. I have always defended him.
    However, Alexis has been an excellent CF
    He has scored 12 PL goals and is up the team with Costa and Aguero
    12 goals and we aren’t technically at the half way point of the season

    I think Giroud is better as a Super Sub. He can score goals off the bench.

    I do think we should try Lucas on the left. Can’t hurt.

  3. Arsenal need to buy a TOP TOP Class Striker Mr Wenger knows this for the last 3 seasons but Mr Wenger will not spend the money he won’t go over the €50mil and won’t be told. Mr Wenger should move on and as for Giroud he should be SOLD as soon as possible not good
    enough.

  4. sanchez is just as affective from the left as he is as a CF. more game time for perez playing on the right gives you more then enough pace and clinical finishing. a bonus would would be to start giroud up front and retain the possibility of two types of goals when arsenal can’t break through the middle. when teams start to loose their shape or discipline then the ox and walcott becomes an overwhelming and important factor, i feel would play a better part.

  5. vigorous passing that ends up going back more often than not is a sign that the final third is not very very affective against an opposition that is very resilient and to a certain extent shows there fear of conceding first against arsenal. i think people’s attitude against arsenal starting giroud first makes little sense, after all you identify the same goal scored as i do by the frenchman to salvage a point or even win it more often than not. why not have perez, sanchez whom we know is just as effective from the left as he is a cf, and giroud up front to have alternative goal opportunities instead of this silly super-sub title. he could also be a valuable asset when holding on to the lead in defense. once that has been established it could mess up the defense wheather they sit back or not.

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