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Arsenal: Olivier Giroud Is Entrenching Himself In His Perfect Role
Olivier Giroud scored from off the bench again in Arsenal’s win over West Ham United. He is entrenching himself in his perfect role for the side.
Arsene Wenger has chopped and changed with his many attacking players throughout the season. Opening the season with Alexis Sanchez as the central striker, Wenger has since employed Olivier Giroud, Lucas Perez and now Danny Welbeck as the spearhead of the Arsenal offence.
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It has been a selection issue before each and every game and has often depended on the opposition and the expected style of match. However, what has become clear to many fans and analysts as the season has progressed is that the team, collective, looks far more threatening with a mobile, sharp centre-forward, a player who is capable of stretching the channels, pulling the defence, creating space in the process.
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The man who does not fit that mould is Giroud. The Frenchman is far more effective with his back to goal, linking up play with his sumptuous first touch, using his physicality to bully defenders, rather than look to spin in behind. However, like at the start of the season, he is again entrenching himself in his perfect role within the squad: super-sub.
It may well be a role that he is best pleased with playing – he did not celebrate as he scored the final goal in the 3-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday night. But it is one that he performs very well, providing Arsenal with a whole different dimension to their attacking moves late in games.
Giroud has scored 15 goals for the Gunners this season. Five of these have come from the bench, including crucial late goals against Manchester United and Sunderland. He has scored nine in the Premier League; four from off of the bench. More impressively, though, he has scored those nine goals in just 804 minutes of football.
He has scored a goal every 89.9 minutes. Only Gabriel Jesus, 69.33 minutes per goal, and Manolo Gabbiadini, 69.25 minutes per goal. Both of those, though, have played just 208 and 277 minutes in the Premier League this season respectively. It is far more impressive, as Giroud has done, to maintain such a goalscoring rate over a great period.
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However, Arsenal are a far more dangerous side with Giroud on the bench. He may well be the best substitute to bring on late in games in the league but whether Wenger can convince him to be happy with a reserve role, or not, only time will tell. Whether he is happy or not with it, Giroud has most certainly found his perfect role.