Olivier Giroud has slowly surrendered his place as first-choice striker for Arsenal and France this season, and seems to have totally lost his confidence in front of goal. Through his career at the Emirates he has always seemed to be very emotional and is greatly affected by criticism from fans and pundits alike, which has seen him go through long periods without scoring before finally regaining his scoring boots.
I would imagine that reading three months worth of rumours suggesting that Arsenal were trying to buy top class striker to relegate him to the bench didn’t help, and neither did the emergence of Wenger’s willingness to give Theo Walcott a trial as the Gunners centre-forward. But maybe lady luck has returned to the 28 year-old as last night Karim Benzema was unavailable through injury, and Giroud started for France in the friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen.
And he started immaculately with two goals in the first six minutes, although neither were particularly well-taken, at least they had finally found the net. Having never scored a hat-trick for Arsenal, France or even in Ligue 1 with Montpellier, this was the perfect opportunity to get a third with 84 minutes left in the game, but couldn’t manage it even when gifted a one-on-one against Kasper Schmeichel.
Giroud said after the game: “It is important to be decisive but I could have done better. I’m glad that luck has chosen my camp this time.
“Now it is part of a striker’s job to put away all their chances, I have not been doing so. I haven’t had enough efficiency or success. Tonight they went in, that’s better.”
Better, but not exactly inspiring. But if he can score two goals when he admits he is not playing well, surely that will boost his confidence a little bit?