Giroud offered to Napoli?
Arsenal are supposedly in the market for a new striker and one name that has popped up on more than one occasion is Gonzalo Higuain. In fact the Argentinean has been linked with Arsenal for the past few years and The Gunners were ‘apparently’ close to signing him before his transfer from Real Madrid to Napoli.
Many expect current frontman Olivier Giroud to remain at Arsenal this summer, with any incomers being competition for the French forward, rather than being a replacement. Giroud’s agent on the other hand supposedly has other ideas, with Manuello telling the media that his client may be involved in a swap deal with Gonzalo Higuain. Manuello told Italian radio station Radio Crc: “As of today Giroud is an Arsenal forward. If they were to ask him to leave, then we’d evaluate the situation. There would be no fear for Olivier to go to Napoli, as we’re talking about a magnificent place.
In Naples my client could have a wonderful lifestyle, not to mention that Maurizio Sarri’s style of football would get the best out of a striker like him.”
It seems that Giroud’s agent is trying to stir a few rumours round in the pot and any truth to the matter remains to be seen. However I don’t think it would be wise at all to see Giroud leave this summer, no matter how frustrated you get because of him. Giroud is a good striker when he gets the service that plays to his strengths. The problem is, is that Arsenal do not always play in a style that suits him and so we don’t really get the best out of Giroud capabilities. Furthermore Giroud is a valuable option for Arsenal, just not as a first choice striker.
In my opinion Higuain wouldn’t be all too good for Arsenal either, despite his goalscoring record at Napoli. I think Higuain has more power that Giroud, but does he offer too much more than Giroud in terms of pace and hold up play? I think he would struggle with the pace of Premier League defenders much like Giroud does.
However if Arsenal do sign him, I hope to be proven wrong.