Arsenal are where Arsenal remain more often than not; fourth in the league and eight points behind the table toppers and their arch rivals, Chelsea. Their season hasn’t been anything spectacular so far though they do have the necessary tools in their armoury to mount a serious challenge to their rivals as they are still in a scheme of things.
Arsenal appeared emphatic in their 4-0 win over Swansea City, the team gelled well and the fluidity existed throughout the game. Olivier Giroud was stationed up front and this time, it wasn’t a late goal to bail the Gunners; instead, it was a clean right-footed finish in the first half to earn his the lead to create the momentum. It might sound biased to too many people, but Arsène Wenger’s package looks complete when Giroud is handed a start.
The 30-year-old fell behind in the pecking order after a late return from Euro 2016 and then battled with both form and fitness. His form has started to rise with the way he has responded and delivered for Wenger. Despite being handed merely four starts up front, Giroud has netted seven, thus once again proving his credentials of a prolific striker who is severely underrated at Arsenal.
Despite the constant series of criticism he faces all the time, the former Montpellier striker has been a productive servant of the North London club. Let’s not forget that he was signed for a marginal fee of £12million and after 209 appearances for the club, he has bagged 92 goals and 39 assists.
This season too, Giroud has found the back of the net pretty often; he has assisted thrice and created 7 chances as well. Why there is a clear divide among the Arsenal faithful is still too hard to contemplate.
The in-form striker saved Arsenal’s blushes against Preston North End, Bournemouth and West Bromwich Albion with late goals. He brings a completely different dimension to Wenger’s obsession with attacking and attractive brand of football; he builds up the game in the final third, makes up his lack of pace by making his bulky frame to good use, gets inside the box to trouble the defenders and makes full use of his height during the set-pieces.
Although he has been maligned for a major chunk of his career at the red half of London, he is still a world-class forward and it was good to see him back in the starting lineup. Frankly speaking, there aren’t many in the business who can replicate what Giroud has cultivated at Arsenal, for he is a player with enormous utility generating capacity. It is high time for Arsenal fans to stop hounding someone who has been a good striker with unparalleled traits for them.
And hey, how many of you are still in awe of his spectacular scorpion kick goal against Crystal Palace?
Statistics Credits: Squawka.
