Arsenal: Olivier Giroud exit brings land of opportunity

Olivier Giroud has sounded out concerns regarding his playing time. If he leaves, Arsenal would have to replace, entering into a land of opportunity.

The use of Olivier Giroud and his unique was a long-running narrative that heavily influenced the tactical nuances of Arsenal season. Some saw it as a changing of Arsene Wenger’s philosophy, from a slower, more possession-based style to a fluid, interchangeable, more dynamic attacking force. Others saw it as Wenger finally catching up with the presiding opinion of the fans.

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Whatever the case, Giroud was not used as much as he would have liked. For someone who has been an entrenched starter since his 2012 move to North London, to be shipped in and out of the starting line-up like Wenger was doing the hokey-cokey is not the role that he would have envisaged for himself.

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And since the close of the year, Giroud has not been quiet regarding his unhappiness at his more limited role. When asked about whether he has had discussions with Wenger regarding his current role and his future, Giroud made it quite clear that he would not settle for the same little amount of playing time, stating:

"“I will put up with the transfer market. I will discuss with the coach but he is relying on me. It is true that I have had limited playing time but it was for a certain amount of time, it is true there were things against me. I will not settle for another year with such little playing time. I will have to think carefully to consider it with my relatives and my advisers. It will be a decision that will be maturely thought about to have more playing time.”"

If, and this is purely speculation, Giroud were to leave the club this summer, then a replacement would need to be found. Arsenal would have only Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez, who’s own future is even more precarious than Giroud’s, and Theo Walcott, who has seemingly proven himself as a more natural winger, as senior options to lead the line.

There is no way that that could be allowed to happen. Consequently, a Giroud exit would force Wenger into the transfer market. And that is an extremely exciting thought indeed. Kylian Mbappe? Alexandre Lacazette? Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang? Perhaps, just perhaps, Wenger would be more convicted in his pursuit of them without Giroud in the squad.

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Giroud does have his uses. He also has his limitations, and it has been the latter that have been more prominent this past season. Whether he leaves or not remains to be seen. But if he does, Arsenal enter a land of opportunity that could be rather fruitful.