It is just about typical really. Even when Arsenal get some good news on the injury front, and the early return of Olivier Giroud from his tibia damage was certainly good news, there is a sting in the tail, because the big Frenchman is not available to face Borussia Dortmund in the crucial Champions League clash at the Emirates on Wednesday night.
After Danny Welbeck remined us of his lack of finishing finesse against his former club and Giroud then scorched a late goal past the Man United keeper not long after coming on, I am sure that many Arsenal fans were goping to see the France international start against Jurgen Klopp’s side, but it is not to be.
Because of the timing of Giroud’s injury, after the play-offs but before the group stages, and because Arsene Wenger did not expect to have him back until the new year, Giroud was left out of the Champions League squad. He will be able to play in the knockout phase, but we have got to get there first, so unless the manager fancies giving Yaya Sanogo, Lukas Podolski or Alexis Sanchez a go as the Arsenal centre forward, it looks like Welbeck is up again.
Let’s hope his finishing is a bit sharper this time.