Arsenal: Olivier Giroud Being Unwittingly Phased Out

Arsenal has been at the whims of Olivier Giroud for years now, but could the Frenchman be facing a phase-out as he nears 30?

Olivier Giroud turns 30 in just a few weeks. That was how old Thierry Henry was when he reached Arsenal. Back then, Wenger had the ability to know when players had hit their peak and sold them for top dollar before using that money to replace them for cheap.

It led to some ruffled feathers (Robert Pires) but it also led to continual success and a balanced budget, two things crucial to leaving a long term legacy.

Olivier Giroud isn’t going to be sold in that fashion, but it is looking more and more likely that he is being phased out of the club. His style is not conducive to the high-paced attack that Wenger is slowly gearing Arsenal towards. He is useful in taking up space and being a target man, but for prolonged relevance throughout those first 75, 80 minutes, it may be more useful to opt for a quicker striker that still has enough physicality to have some sort of presence.

So… Lucas Perez.

Giroud has had to declare himself fit for the Southampton match before pointing out that had his return been a priority, Wenger would have asked for him to come back sooner.

Which makes us question why Giroud wasn’t asked to come back sooner. Plenty of Frenchmen who took part in the Euros returned club action all over the world prior to this international break, but not Giroud. So what gives?

Featured: Griezmann Could Move In Package Deal

It’s likely that Wenger wanted to see how his new attack would look with a pacey striker leading the line. He wanted to see if Alexis would be a good representation of that and, lo and behold, he wasn’t, at least not for long periods of time.

Arsenal’s quick strike ability and intelligence on the attack was seen against Watford and that pacey attack will undoubtedly be the apple of Wenger’s eye. It speaks loads that Wenger has not sought to sign a striker of Giroud’s ilk to inherit the mantle. He has instead opted for quick strikers.

We must be nearing a change in tactics.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

And believe what you want, but Wenger does have a sense of urgency. He wants to keep hold of Ozil and Alexis and the best way to do that may be to conform to their style of play and fit a fast striker in up front, doing away with Olivier Giroud, or at least making him an Andy Carroll sort where he can come on and bully defenses late on (just to be clear, Giroud is loads better than Carroll).

Even last season we saw Giroud get pushed to the side far more frequently to allow Theo Walcott a chance, and we know how effective that was.

This Arsenal attack is changing gears and Giroud does not fit as well into that new gear. With the longball abilities of Xhaka and Ozil, killer runs from forwards are going to be the name of the game, like we saw against Watford.

Next: 10 Missed Summer Transfers

Giroud will always be a part of this Arsenal squad, but don’t be surprised if the first sign of distress from Giroud gives way to Lucas being tossed in to lead the line.

Home/Arsenal News