Olivier Giroud Must Avoid Another Detrimental International Break

International break is being heralded as a good thing for once in the Arsenal camp. Plenty of injured folk will have a chance to get healthy and return next weekend to club football. Arsenal are expecting back Aaron Ramsey, Hector Bellerin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. But as is the case with any international break, there have to be some negatives. Olivier Giroud is one negative.

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Giroud has been on a tear for the Gunners and they need him in that form. He has scored seven goals in his last eight matches. Going into international break, French boss Didier Deschamps has pointed out that Giroud is always going to be a part of his plans. He has proven himself and his quality (via ESPNFC). That is not the worrying part. The worrying part is what happened to Olivier Giroud the last time international break interfered with his excellent run of form.

Last year, when Giroud returned from injury, he went on a 16 goal in 22 match spree. Everything went in. He was on fire and terrorizing the league. Then he went on international break in late March and, despite scoring a goal against Denmark, only managed two more goals for Arsenal in their final ten matches (via soccerbase).

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That kind of rupture in form could destroy Arsenal’s title hopes. The team is incredibly reliant on Olivier Giroud right now. If his goal scoring consistency is interrupted and we have no Theo Walcott or Danny Welbeck to step in, Arsenal could start to look flustered in the goal scoring department yet again.

Hopefully Olivier Giroud turned the corner. When he was benched for Theo Walcott, he pulled himself up and sprang into action, averaging a goal every 90 minutes. That was all thanks to his own grit and determination, something Olivier Giroud has never displayed before. In years past, he had felt entitled to his role at striker and felt no need to fight for it.

Building confidence for himself might have made him impervious to ruptures in consistency like he had last year. Or at least let’s hope that is the case.

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Olivier Giroud will be playing against Germany and England in two international friendlies. No matter if he happens upon goals or boos, he cannot let international play interfere with his club play. Not scoring against Tottenham was a huge disappointment given the chances he had. A residual effect from that and internationals would be devastating.

But this is a new Olivier Giroud. No more of that inconsistency stuff.