Arsenal: The Olivier Giroud problem has been fixed

Arsenal has for too long relied on Olivier Giroud alone to score goals. Finally, that problem has been fixed once and for all.

For far longer than I would care to think about, Arsenal has had an Olivier Giroud problem. A huge Olivier Giroud problem. It led to Giroud being booed by fans both on a club and international level and it led to my lifelong crusade to get the Frenchman he deserves.

The problem with Giroud wasn’t in the man himself, but in the situation that he was in. He is a talented target man. He always has been. From the moment he arrived in England, he was one of the best. But for many, that is where they saw his use stopping. He wasn’t Robin van Persie, who he was called on to replace.

And that is where the problem began. To counter the Flying Dutchman’s exit, Arsene Wenger turned to a combination of Giroud and Lukas Podolski. After being phased out after just a year, the mantle fell squarely on top of Giroud and no one else. Sure, players would come and go (Yaya Sanogo), but no one ever truly challenged Giroud.

Meaning that, in times of trouble. In times where Giroud went through a slump, as every other player in the world is keen to do, there was nowhere else to turn. Giroud had to fight through it and, in the process, piss off the fans who couldn’t figure out why Giroud was human and not a demigod.

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This past season, we saw something different. We saw a Giroud sitting more than ever before, but we saw a Giroud that was more effective in his minutes played than ever before. Always remember, in the 2016/17 season, Olivier “The Lamppost” Giroud was the most efficient striker in the whole of the Premier League.

Just like that, we see what we pretty much knew all along – that if you challenge Giroud’s monopoly on starting minutes, you will get the most out of him. And even the haters will admit that when Giroud is actually clicking, he is one hell of a weapon.

Going into this coming season, Giroud has made it clear. He will not be sitting on the bench. Here is what he had to say, as quoted by the Express:

"Wenger is counting on me even though he hasn’t used me much. I will not settle for limited playing time (next season) like I have this season."

This is what we have wanted from him all along. A little determination behind each and every minute and lo and behold, we have accomplished it. The Giroud problem that has plagued Arsenal for years has been fixed.

Next year, Giroud is going to be pushing more than ever before to be a consistent member of that first team. The more minutes he sees, the harder he will push. He will hit the 100 goal marker and maybe finally, after so many years, he will finally get the credit he deserves.

Next: Arsenal's 30 Greatest Players Ever

But only maybe.

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