Arsenal: Olivier Giroud The Most Glorious Problem To Have

Arsenal are yet again pushing Olivier Giroud to the side and yet again, we have to remark at what a nice problem this is to have.

The beginning of the season put Arsenal in a very unfamiliar place. Olivier Giroud was actually upset by not feeling like a priority. He wasn’t being welcomed back into the striker position that he had been given free reign to for the past four years.

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It was an odd feeling, but it was really nice. For four years we had all been complaining that Giroud had no competition for his position and finally, he did. Finally the weight was lifted off of his shoulders and he had to work his way back into the starting XI.

Which he did and subsequently scored in literally every start that he had. Which is a pretty nice welcome back.

And now he is going to have to do that again. Giroud has played just 38 minutes since the start of February as his involvement in the first team is dwindling. Alexis has been given the starting role yet again and with Danny Welbeck inching closer to health and Lucas Perez constantly awaiting a real chance, it is only going to get tougher.

Can we just take a moment to appreciate that?

Giroud fell under such heavy criticism throughout his first years at the club because Wenger put so much faith in him that it would have been impossible to return. Supporters blamed him for being the only viable option.

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He went through great days and bad days, just like everyone else. But since Arsenal had to suffer through his bad days without reprieve, they began to overshadow the good days.

Now, there are no bad days because Giroud isn’t allowed to suffer through them, he is removed.

It’s taken such a reversal that supporters are actually calling for more Giroud, something I never thought I’d hear in all my days.

It is a glorious problem to have, and one that is only going to get better with returns to health. Olivier Giroud absolutely deserves more time in the starting XI, but so too do Danny Welbeck and Lucas Perez.

This ensures that no matter who Wenger turns to up front, he is going to get their best because whoever it happens to be will know that nothing is a guarantee anymore.

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I can’t help but wonder how it could have changed things if Wenger would have just brought in proper competition for Giroud earlier in his career.