It is only right that Arsenal fans are looking to Arsene Wenger and the club to splash the cash in the transfer market this summer and I certainly agree that we should be trying to sign at least one top class striker, probably two if the Chile international star Alexis Sanchez is sold as many football experts seem to think will happen.
What I do not agree with is the feeling of many Arsenal fans that Wenger should not stand in the way of Olivier Giroud also leaving the club. The big French centre forward has made it clear that he does not want to spend another season mainly on the bench or being used as a super sub as he did last time and a fair proportion of Gooners would be happy to see Arsenal sell him as they do not think he is good enough.
The manager disagrees though, as his comments reported by the Evening Standard this week make clear. He has sympathy with the player but after Giroud signed a new contract in January there is no pressure on us to sell and it sounds like the boss has no intention of doing so.
Wenger said, “It has been a frustrating season for him because he has not played a lot.
“And when he has played well, he has not always played the next match.
“He has won us a lot of points when he has come on because he has scored lots of times. He has qualities that our team need.”
The problem for Giroud, if he wants to leave, is that he scored vital goals and his numbers were very impressive despite of, or maybe because of, his frustration. So with the Gunners needing a strong squad to cope with all the games why on earth would we let a proven Premier League goalscorer move on?
He may not be first choice but who else would be your first choice off the bench?
Bob.