Arsenal: Arsene Wenger Screwing Olivier Giroud

Olivier Giroud is quickly becoming a scapegoat for Arsenal’s struggles. But he is being screwed by the misuse of his talents by Arsene Wenger.

Olivier Giroud is a divisive figure among Arsenal circles. Some see him as the antithesis of everything good about the club: he is slow and lethargic, he is blunt in the final third and lazy in his pressing. Others see him as an underrated superstar, with overpowering physicality and a sumptuous first touch.

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The truth, more likely, lies somewhere in between. But in the loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, the Frenchman was at his floundering worst, dominated by Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen aerially and sounded out of chances by his slow and unintelligent movement.

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This is an extract from Football London’s piece on the struggles of the Frenchman:

"“A week after toiling badly and failing to get any loose change out of the likes of Nicolas Otamendi and Vincent Kompany, Giroud was given the nod once more at the home of the best defence in the country. The results were as inevitable as they were grim. Giroud was bullied when the ball went long, failed to close down Hugo Lloris’ suspect kicking forward and there was no tangible evidence of any sort of chemistry between the front three, who all looked to be following their own instructions.”"

It is difficult to argue with their assessment. In fact, it is wholly accurate. And because of such valid conclusions drawn from his ineptitude, Giroud is quickly becoming the scapegoat for all the shortcomings of the side.

But that is to ignore his true value, something that Arsene Wenger is clearly unaware of. Giroud is not the striker who will fire his side to a Premier League title. He is not the bruising, bullying centre-forward who will take the game by the scruff of the neck and wrestle it under his control. He must play in a team that is tailored to his strengths; he must play in a team that exploit his headed ability; he must play in a team that use him as a focal point for their attack, not as a counter-attacking threat; he must play in a team where he is not the number one man.

Wenger, though, has seemingly not grasped that concept. Now, this is not to exonerate Giroud from his shortcomings. He is a one-dimensional striker who will never lead the line for a title winning team. And Arsenal do need to improve upon him this summer if they are to ever fulfil their ever-elusive title hopes.

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This is simply to defend the scapegoat role that he has been cast in, and to relay the blame onto Wenger, who is misusing the centre-forward. Giroud is a good but not great player. Wenger seems to think, and subsequently uses him as, the latter, and is screwing him over as a result.