Arsenal: Olivier Giroud Gives Gunners Unique Bragging Rights

Arsenal could use a bit of an uplifting nugget of anything, and Olivier Giroud, of all people, may have something that Gooner’s can hang their hats on.

Arsenal’s fortunes aren’t that great right now. The Premier League title looks out of reach. The Champions League is the same as always. Both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are nearing the end of their contracts. And, especially in Alexis’s case, an exit is looking likelier by the day.

Then there was the most unfortunate stat, where Cesc Fabregas has produced more goals than Mesut Ozil in a fraction of the time. And there was nothing we could do to defend Ozil in this case. He just hasn’t been what we needed him to be.

Even here at Pain in the Arsenal, I’m finding that most of what I write is taking a negative turn because there is just isn’t anything positive happening. Literally any little blip or nugget of something to brag about would be amazing.

That was my goal today. To find something worth bragging about. Something that we can hang our hats on and say “well, at least we have that”. And I think I’ve found it after hours of digging. And no, it isn’t that Wenger supposedly turned down a move to China.

I found it in the form of Olivier Giroud. If nothing else, the Gunners can claim that they have the most efficient goal scorer in the Premier League (as of right now). No other player in the league (with a minimum of 15 appearances) scores goals as frequently as our 30 year old big man, who averages 1.1 goals every 90 minutes of play.

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That tops Harry Kane, Diego Costa, Zlatan “Two Trophies” Ibrahimovic and yes, even Cesc Fabregas, whose .63 goal production clip can’t quite match Giroud’s .59. What a shame.

Not only that, but of the forwards that were in the same company, Giroud also has the best assist creation rate.

All in all, while I was lost in Kylian Mbappe‘s insane clip of a goal or assist every 61 minutes, I neglected our own Frenchman, Olivier Giroud, who is producing a goal every 59 minutes.

For all of the seasons where Giroud was under the microscope and unfairly scrutinized, he has come out of it in this new role (where he is almost certainly underused) and has made himself the most efficient scorer in England.

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We won’t get any trophies for that, but it’s still pretty damn cool. Thanks Oli G!

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