It is quite amazing that Olivier Giroud has scored five goals in his last five games for Arsenal, but he has actually only started one game, and in that match it was the first one that he didn’t score from open play. So would you say that the French hitman has earned a starting place against Bournemouth this weekend?
Wenger was asked that very question and his answer surprised even me. “No,” he said. “It’s just game by game I choose a solution. I’ll make a decision for the next game. I thought in this game [against PSG] that his physical presence could give them a big problem at the back so I decide game after game. We need everybody on board now and it’s just the next game that matters.”
That would appear to signify that Giroud will go back to the bench, and we can’t deny that he certainly seems to be hungrier when he comes on when he is needed, with that “positive anger” that Arsene spoke about. Maybe it makes perfect sense for his role to be a “supersub”?
But then again, perhaps it is time for Giroud to start more often, especially considering the games that we have coming up in the next month. Look at this excellent looking fixture list….
Bournemouth (H) – Sun 27 Nov
Southampton (H) – Wed 30 Nov
West Ham (A) – Sat 3 Dec
Basel (H) – Tue 6 Dec
Stoke (H) – Sat 10 Dec
Everton (A) – Tue 13 Dec
Man City (A) – Sun 18 Dec
Until the City game, we have a real chance to rotate and rest some of our stars, and in fact we could play our League Cup team against Basel as it means nothing now. Admittedly all the League matches are must-win games right now, but if we are going to stay consistent until the end of the season then we can’t afford to burn out any of our stars, especially Alexis.
So what do you think? Giroud as a supersub or regular starter in the upcoming fixtures?
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