Arsenal have managed to get to the top of the League table at the halfway point in the campaign and it seems that Thierry Henry has finally become convinced that the Gunners really can win the title with Olivier Giroud as their main striker, after famously stating during the summer that it was impossible. Most of Giroud’s strikes have come from assists by the fabulous Mesut Ozil, and Henry thinks that this partnership is now the crucial factor for Arsenal’s season.
“Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil are finally showing the consistency to match their unquestionable ability,” Henry said in the The Sun. “Now they can lead Arsenal to the title because the team has learned how to win the big games even when they don’t dominate possession.”
“I would have struggled to play in this way because I wasn’t the greatest in the air and wouldn’t have won enough headers. But that is what Olivier brings to the team,”
“It caused a real stir last year when I said that Arsenal couldn’t win the title with Giroud as their only striker.
“There have never been any doubts about Giroud’s ability. We all know he can score goals and is a great finisher and that he loves to share and help his teammates. But when you play for Arsenal you have to turn up and perform in every match. And Giroud is finally showing the consistency that was missing in previous seasons.
“It is the same story with Ozil, who is now showing he can deliver in the games against the big teams. For a team to win the title they need a striker who is capable of scoring 30 goals a season and a No. 10 who is creating like crazy. Arsenal now have both of those players to rely on in the title run-in.”
Henry added that “if Giroud and Ozil keep performing at their current level, there is no reason why they can’t stay top right to the end of the season.”
The fact is that a large percentage of Arsenal fans also agreed that Giroud was not good enough for Arsenal, but surely he has silenced his critics this time. Or has he?