While we still do not know for sure whether Olivier Giroud will still be an Arsenal player next season, with various transfer rumours suggesting that the France international could be set for a transfer to West Ham, Everton or even back to a French club, it looks more likely that he will stay.
That Arsene Wenger wants to keep him in north London is clear but what is a bit less clear is how he plans to use the big centre forward. There are various options but most people see the3 new signing Lacazette being the first choice centre forward with Giroud used as a back up and sub, but not everyone thinks so.
Remi Garde knows the Arsenal boss pretty well having played under him at Highbury for three seasons and it was clear when Garde took over at Aston Villa recently that the two had kept in contact. Garde also knows a lot about our new signing as he was the manager of Lyon before coming to England and in a report by Goal.com he explains why he thinks Giroud could be paired together up front.
He said, “Olivier and Alexandre are two different players that Arsene needs.
“The seasons are long and the aims are high for a club like Arsenal. To have these two players at his disposal is not too much, and it is possible to put them both in the same XI.
“The proof, at Lyon, is that Alex and [former Lyon and Swansea striker] Bafe [Gomis] played alongside each other at Lyon with me. We got the balance right by playing a diamond midfield.
“That is something that Arsene could do with these two players. Alex is a player who is sufficiently intelligent to adapt to that, Olivier Giroud too.”
As well as having a front two Arsenal could use the new man in a wide role with Giroud’s power and size in the role of target man, so do you think we will see the two start Arsenal games together?
Bob.