Arsenal: Olivier Giroud still has his uses, even if he needs replacing

Arsene Wenger has reportedly told Olivier Giroud that he can leave, with Alexandre Lacazette replacing him. While a replacement is needed, that does not mean that Giroud is of no use to Arsenal.

Ever since Robin van Persie departed under a cloud of controversy in the summer of 2012, Arsenal’s starting striker has been one the most divisive and ambiguous characters in the Premier League. Olivier Giroud is an enigma that, even after five years, is still unsolved.

Related Story: Arsene Wenger's Best Starting XI

To some, he is a hustling, bustling, bullying centre-forward, dominating opposing centre-halves with his size and his physicality. To others, he is a lumbering, immobile lump who lacks the agility, the balance and the overall athleticism to excel in the Premier League. The truth, as so often is the case, likely lies somewhere between the two stances.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

However, it is a rather ambitious stretch of the imagination to suggest that Giroud has the goalscoring pedigree to fire a team to a sustained and genuine title challenge. During his five seasons at the Emirates, he has scored 11, 16, 14, 16 and 12 Premier League goals. While that is not to be scoffed at, it is far from the figures required for a title challenge.

Contrast those numbers to that of the leading scorer for the winner that year: Robin van Persie in 2013 with 26; Sergio Aguero in 2014 with 17 (from 20 games); Diego Costa with 20 goals in both 2015 and 2017; Jamie Vardy in 2016 with 24 goals. Giroud does not boast the consistent prolificacy of these other strikers. That is why Arsene Wenger is searching for his replacement this summer, with Alexandre Lacazette an especially strong possibility.

However, that does not mean that Giroud has to leave. Though that is what recent reports are suggesting may happen. In fact, it has now been rumoured that Wenger has told Giroud that he is free to leave the club. Whether Lacazette does indeed join or not, it would be a mistake to sell Giroud.

While he does not offer the consistent threat that is required to be the starting centre-forward, he does bring a unique set of skills that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. He is a nightmare to defend against aerially, he is a threat from set pieces – both offensively and defensively – and he offers a focal point when playing against deep-lying defences that want to try and cramp the space in the final third and frustrate Arsenal’s free-flowing passing movies.

Next: Arsenal: 30 Greatest Players In History

Giroud may not be the most popular option among many fans. But he does have his uses, he just has to be tailored to correctly.