Giroud manages to ignore jeers to score for France by DN
As Arsenal fans we are all aware of Olivier Giroud’s weaknesses and capabilities, and he has scored many crucial goals for the Gunners over the last four seasons. Okay he has not managed more than 16 League goals in one campaign, but for a workhorse that only cost us 10m GBP when Wenger brought him over from France he has at least earned his wages (unlike Walcott and a few others I could name).
Earlier in the season I remember Olly scoring something like six times in seven games, but no matter how many goals he gets, the fans always seem to concentrate on the ones that got away. Yes he did go 14 games without scoring, but he was still battling for every ball and it seemed that no matter how good his kick or header was, the opposing goalkeepers were all doing Gordon Banks’ impressions to keep his name of the scoresheet. He got blamed for our dismal run after Xmas, but surely the team as a whole were not playing well, and nobody else was scoring goals either. But that didn’t stop the fans and pundits laying into Giroud at every chance they got.
It seems this petty abuse has now spread to the France supporters. Giroud was abused before last night’s game with Cameroon. He was wolf-whistled when his name was announced on the team sheet, and he was jeered when he was substituted off. But despite all this pressure, he still managed to score France’s second goal with an excellent volley after a brilliant Pogba assist.
I bet he could be the top scorer at the Euros and win the trophy for France and he would still be abused by his own supporters…
Here are the short highlights from France v Cameroon. See Giroud’s volley and marvel at Payet’s fantastic winner in the last minute….
Darren