Arsenal: Olivier Giroud First Name On Team Sheet For Bayern Munich

Arsenal need to have the right mentality going in to face Bayern Munich if they want to have a fighting chance. Therefore Olivier Giroud should be first on the team sheet.

Arsenal’s success is all about their mentality. Probably moreso than any other team out there. No one denies how much talent is oozing out of this Gunner’s side. What people do question is how much that talent hungers for trophies or wants to do something special.

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As such, going into Bayern Munich is no easy feat. On paper, Arsenal should be able to be right there with the German powerhouse. They’ve done it before, after all. With superstars like Alexis and Mesut Ozil, there should be no question.

But then you see the complete mental collapse against a higher-tier club like Chelsea and you wonder if that isn’t what’s in store against Bayern.

The key is mentality. Wenger has to put a side out there that believes that they belong and won’t be shaken if Bayern filch the first goal.

Obviously players like Alexis, Mustafi and Koscielny will be some of the first names chosen, but Olivier Giroud needs to be the absolute first name chosen, without a shadow of a doubt.

It was last season that Giroud got the best (at times) of Manuel Neuer in the group stages, and it was during the Euros that our Frenchman exuded some serious confidence.

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“Manuel Neuer is a great goalkeeper but we also have great goalkeepers in France and within the national team. Obviously he is a key player in their squad but I have scored a few goals against him and I hope that my team-mates will do the same. Anyway, he is not an ‘impenetrable wall’,” he said, via newstalk.

While Giroud did not score against Germany in the Euros, he was instrumental in setting up a 2-0 win for his national side and he was crucial throughout the competition as well.

Even still, it’s all about belief. It’s why I’ve so strongly advocated for Xhaka coming back into the side. He hasn’t lost to Bayern since 2013. His mentality is going to be unfazed by their “Goliath” status.

Giroud is in that same boat. He is not fazed by Bayern Munich, he has had success against Neuer and it would be foolish to leave such a positive mindset on the bench when this club is still frazzled since dropping two straight against Watford and Chelsea.

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Give Giroud the nod, he shouldn’t have lost his starting spot to begin with.