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Olivier Giroud Statistically In Elite Company At Arsenal
By Josh Sippie
It seems like every time Olivier Giroud puts up a strong showing, there is a cute little statistic or two that reminds us that the Frenchman is actually a quality striker. While in fact he has always been quality, these little tidbits of numerical information beat the point into our heads. Unfortunately, that stat will be read, marveled over and forgotten in the span of a week.
This time, the stat is along the same lines. In the past three years, no striker has scored more goals than Olivier Giroud other than Sergio Aguero. 34 goals in the last three years, three ahead of Wayne Rooney. Whereas Aguero’s 49 are a long ways off, that still means that in the last three years, Olivier Giroud has been the second best striker in the EPL.
I can feel the anger brewing already and the comebacks waiting to be dropped in the comments section. True, Diego Costa only joined up last year. True, Harry Kane just hit the limelight last year. True, Alexis Sanchez only joined Arsenal last year. But in terms of consistency, there is a bit to be said here.
Plus, consider that Giroud’s finishing .68 goals per 90 lat year was not all that far behind Costa’s .87 and Kane’s .73. Add to that the fact that Kane may be proving to be a fluke and Costa is not exactly following up well either. But Olivier Giroud is.
Now that that stat is out of the way, let’s look at what Olivier Giroud has been able to do this year. On average, Olivier Giroud scores one goal every 90 minutes. You heard me right, one goal every 90 minutes. Let’s look at where that places him among the best strikers in the world (via Squawka.com):
[table id=72 /]
Giroud may only be a sub as is but he has played 359 minutes this year. That is a big sample size. Plus, this is not the first time that Olivier Giroud’s goals per 90 has eclipsed Cristiano Ronaldo’s. That happened during a 21 game stretch last year as well.
Yet again it is necessary to point out that Arsenal truly do have a solid goal scorer in Olivier Giroud. He is just tremendously underrated. How many times do you have to stand among the Titans before you are considered one?
Also, consider that among those listed above, only Neymar, Benzema, Ibra and Muller have created more chances than Olivier Giroud. He scores goals, he creates chances, all among the best in the world. 1.25 chances created this year, which, if you think is a fluke, is less than his 1.36 last year.
Yet he is nothing short of spat upon by a large amount of supporters out there. This man is no lamp post.
All Olivier Giroud can do is keep speaking with his play. He puts up statistics that put him in elite company. Based on stats alone, he is one of the best in the world at doing what he does. The fact that he does not have blistering pace or deft dribbling steals from what he is able to do. Even when he is not scoring he is creating chances. And for those that criticize that Olivier Giroud misses too many chances, consider that his total shots is just over five per 90, right at where the rest of those world class strikers sit at. His shot accuracy is right up there as well. In fact, he is more accurate than just about everyone aside from Lewandowski.
Take away the names in the chart up above and any Arsenal supporter would take any one of those strikers. But since Olivier Giroud’s name brings about such negative stigmas, he is continuously deemed unworthy.
Am I so out of line in sticking to the assessment that Olivier Giroud is a class striker? Leave a comment, scold me if you must.
Next: What Pokemon Would Olivier Giroud Be?