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Arsenal: Arsene Wenger Hints At Olivier Giroud Coup
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal’s biggest debate right now is over who starts up front. The golden boy Alexis Sanchez or the controversial Olivier Giroud. Wenger may have told us.
With Arsenal‘s starting XI for Sunderland yet to be released, we are confronted with one major debate – who will Wenger star up front? Alexis Sanchez is making the job his own, but Wenger recently spoke out that he was frustrated that the Chilean was still unable to shake some of his un-striker-like habits.
Related: Arsenal’s 30 Greatest Strikers Of All Time
Not only that, but we have seen those habits first hand – most recently against Boro. The Gunners were toothless and a major reason why that happened was because Alexis would not stay up front as a striker. He wanted the ball at all times.
However, the debate may be short-lived. That is, if we can read into what Arsene Wenger is saying (which is far from a guarantee).
“[Alexis and Giroud] are two top players. It is not a bad option – it is a good option to have. To leave quality players out is tough.”
That is the first hint I see in the puzzle. Mainly that last bit. What would be easier, sitting none of the quality players he mentioned or sitting one? It’s not like Wenger has to choose one or the other, he can move Alexis back into the midfield and start Giroud. Bam. Situation averted.
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The next hint comes from Wenger shedding light on Alexis’s shortcomings as a striker. Again, what is he holding out for? This isn’t a time to just see if then mistakes will iron themselves out. If someone is struggling and you have so much ‘quality’ that you have to sit on the bench, then bring that quality in the game and let the two quality players play quality together.
It really is that simple.
I would be surprised to see Giroud on the bench. Although, I supposed I should back up and say that nothing Wenger does is necessarily surprising. Unless Yaya Sanogo is up there, then we have a problem.
It makes sense to start Giroud, as I covered earlier. And from the sounds of it, Wenger wants to start him. The disappointment with Alexis and the clear hint that they can both do the same things up front, only one can play wide and one can’t.
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Hopefully Le Prof can read between his own lines. Start them both, the only way you can.