Despite the fact that the Arsenal and England international Theo Walcott is looking better all the time and showing that Arsene Wenger has a great option for the centre forward position, the form of our France international striker Olivier Giroud is becoming a real concern.
Giroud may have already scored three Premier League goals this season, but it is clear that he is not the same player that was the main man for Arsenal in recent years. His volley against Crystal Palace was a sweetly taken goal, while the other two against Stoke and Leicester were decent finishes but the big Frenchman has also missed a host of chances and his all round play has been well below par.
Giroud has always thrived on confidence and those three goals do not seem to have given him any. According to an ESPN report, Didier Deschamps his international manager with France says this lack of confidence is what is affecting Giroud´s form.
Deschamps is determined to help though, and after publicly backing the Arsenal forward after he was booed by French fans last month, the coach has kept him in the squad in an attempt to help him regain his confidence and form.
Deschamps said, “Olivier is in a tough position — it’s a difficult period for him.
“He was sent off in the Champions League with Arsenal and couldn’t play in their last match in the competition. He’s not playing as much as before. Inevitably, his confidence has diminished.
“He started two games at the 2014 World Cup.
“He was an important player and he can’t lose that from one day to the next. The fact that he’s here is also a way of telling him that I have confidence in him.”
With France hosting the Euro 2016 tournament next summer, they do not have to qualify and so their games against Armenia and Denmark over the next week are just friendlies. Hopefully this will mean that Deschamps gives Giroud plenty of time on the pitch and hopefully this will mean that he comes back to north London ready to shine again for Arsenal.
Do you think he will still be able to have a big say over the course of our season?