Arsenal Vs West Brom: Olivier Giroud A Necessity

Arsenal travel to West Brom on Saturday in a match that they must win to keep their top four hopes alive. Starting Olivier Giroud is a necessity.

Arsenal’s top four place is in serious jeopardy. With their hopes in the balance, they must now travel to the Hawthorns to face a vastly underrated West Brom side who currently sit in a relatively comfortable eighth position in the table.

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Given that Tony Pulis is West Brom’s manager, it will likely be a tactical battle that Arsene Wenger will have to win if his side want to collect all three points.

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One position that has garnered much chopping and changing throughout the year has been the central striker. At the start of the year, Wenger was forced into stationing Alexis Sanchez in the role, primarily due to fatigue and injuries. However, such was the Chilean’s success that Wenger has since persisted with him spearheading the attack.

But Olivier Giroud is still in the squad and still merits inclusion from time to time. One of those times is Saturday’s trip to the Hawthorns. At least, that is the opinion of Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson. Speaking ahead of the tricky weekend fixture, Merson stated:

"West Brom are always difficult to beat at home. I know Palace beat them the other week at home and they have had a couple of bad results, but it will be a hard game for Arsenal. You always think Arsenal are going to be vulnerable from set plays, they are not the biggest team in the world, so Arsene Wenger will probably have to play Olivier Giroud in this game, even if he does not want to. So you are sort of changing your team for the other team and I would be surprised if Giroud does not play in this game, in fact I would be shocked if I am being honest.”"

They are certainly fair comments. West Brom are a physically imposing side and will be a major threat from set pieces. More than just his defensive improvements, though, West Brom will likely sit deep and cramp the space with which their visitors can work in, frustrating them in the final third.

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The primary way to allude this tactic is to get the ball wide and cross it with accuracy and regularity. This is where Giroud is unlike any other player in the Gunners’ squad. The Gunners must win on Saturday and to do that, they must break down a resolute West Brom defence. Goals are a necessity, as is Olivier Giroud.