It is better for a player to make an impact when they come off the bench in a football match, of course, but at the same time you will not find too many pros who like having the tag of being a super sub, because it means they are not getting in the starting line-up.
When a player does tend to have a positive influence as a sub they feel that it should prove to the manager that they deserve to be on the pitch from the first whistle, so our France international star Olivier Giroud will be hoping that his late equalising goal after coming on late into the game at Old Trafford will have earned him a place in the team for the Champions League clash with PSG on Wednesday.
I would not be so sure though, even if Arsene Wenger did admit in an Arsenal.com report that the big striker was growing increasingly frustrated about his lack of starts. Instead it sounds to me as though the boss is happy to channel the anger of Giroud to give the Gunners that late thrust in a game that has seen us score a lot of late goals already this season.
Wenger said, “He’s angry in a positive way.
“I’d say he’s more determined [than angry]. I have a lot of respect, not only for his quality as a footballer, but also for the man. The best answer he can give is always to show what he did today.
“Maybe a few years ago [he had so may options] but I think we have the quality and the spirit on the bench. The two together makes us remarkably dangerous until the last minute. Since the start of the season, look at the number of goals we’ve scored in the final five minutes. That is not a coincidence.”
Another stat reported by Metro is a positive one but will not help the big centre forward in his desire to start games is that his goal against Manchester United makes him the most effective sub for Arsenal in the Premier League ever with 10 goals.
So unfortunately for Olly I think Wenger is going to keep using him as a super sub because it is working so well. Is the boss right in his use of Giroud?
Bob.