Former Arsenal star Stewart Robson has claimed that Olivier Giroud didn’t deserve the kind of flack he received while at the club, and thinks he will succeed at Chelsea.
The striker left the club on deadline day to join our London rivals, in a three-way deal including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang arriving at the Emirates, and Michy Batshuayi to Borussia Dortmund on a loan deal.
Aubameyang is already looking like an amazing signing after only one outing, and is no doubt an upgrade on Giroud, but former Gunners midfielder Robson claims the striker didn’t deserve as much criticism as he received in North London.
“At times (he was treated unfairly),” he said.
“I don’t think Arsenal are a side that want to get the ball wide and put crosses into the box, they don’t do that enough.
“When they were sitting deep and wanted to play on the counter attack, Olivier Giroud wasn’t the player to play on the counter attack.
“So I think he was given a slightly unfair ride.
“Thierry Henry said Arsenal can’t win the league with a centre-forward like Giroud in the side, that was a worrying statement.
“But I think Olivier Giroud, in the right circumstances, coming on as a sub at times when the team is struggling, when you’re on the front foot and getting crosses into the box, he can score lots of goals for Chelsea.
“I think he was unfairly treated at Arsenal.”
Giroud kept up a more than decent goalscoring record for his time with our club, although he never managed to break the 20-goal mark in a single PL season for us.
He was regularly subbed off during his time with our club, and obviously was going to be restricted by the incoming signing of PEA, so we have to respect his wish to leave, but maybe we simply didn’t play the type of football suited to his playing style.
Did Giroud get a harder time than he deserved? Will Chelsea’s style be any better for him?
Pat J