Arsenal Vs Swansea City: Olivier Giroud Pushing Forward

Olivier Giroud started the last four Arsenal games. He is now pushing forward to reclaim the starting role that he lost to Alexis Sanchez earlier this year.

The revolution that was seemingly taking over Arsenal earlier in the season has stalled in recent weeks. Arsene Wenger has always favoured, in his lone-striker system, a more physical player, someone who is able to play with their backs to goal with a good touch, bringing the many talented, attacking midfielders into play.

In recent years, that man has been Olivier Giroud. However, Alexis Sanchez was the spearhead that Wenger preferred earlier in the season, with the greater mobility and intensity of the Chilean encouraging a high-pressing style that seemed to help much of the team.

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Giroud, though, was reinstated for the Boxing Day win over West Bromwich Albion, has started all three games since then, scoring in all four of those matches, including three crucial late goals and a sublime scorion-esque finish against Crystal Palace. After now extending his contract at the Emirates, Wenger heralded the character and the quality of the towering Frenchman:

"“He has accepted the challenge not to be automatically selected and responded in the right way. When you face the situation he faced, either you feel sorry for yourself or you say, ‘I have a challenge I have to take on and work even harder’. That’s what he did. He has very interesting qualities that can give you variety in your offensive game. We are a team who prefers to play on the ground, then when we don’t pass on the ground we can go as well in the air and he can still help us there.”"

Now, Arsenal travel to the Liberty Stadium to face a struggling Swansea City side under new manager Paul Clement. It is expected that the flow of the game will take typical fashion; the Gunners dominate possession, Swansea sit deep, suffocate the space and look to stifle and frustrate the tight, intricate passing that Wenger encourages in attacking areas.

As such, Giroud becomes the perfect option. As Wenger himself notes, he brings an aerial threat that no one else in the squad can match. He is strong and physical, attacks the ball with great vigour and desire and is intelligent with his movement in and around the box, especially when the ball is in wide areas, boasting a famous dart across the front post before flicking the cross past the stranded keeper.

Next: Arsenal Vs Swansea City: Predicted Starting XI

Giroud is proving his worth to Arsenal. His recent performances have been exemplary, and although Wenger may still see fit to drop him for certain games in which pace, rather power, is more beneficial in leading the line, but he is pushing forward, with a new contract in his back pocket, towards further success in North London.