Arsenal: Dear fans, keep calm and trust Olivier Giroud

Arsenal nation was a bit sour that Olivier Giroud was up front and Alexandre Lacazette was getting deeper, but the message remains: just trust Giroud.

Arsenal nation has never really had that much love for Olivier Giroud. There have been few who have always supported his continued stay and far more that blame every single negative mishap on him and only him, no questions asked.

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So it was only natural that there would be some degree of irritation at the fact that Alexandre Lacazette was forced to play in an attacking midfield facet rather than up front, where Arsene Wenger slotted Giroud.

Lacazette has yet to be on the pitch without Giroud there next to him, which is another development to keep an eye on.

But all of these things are good. And while I will go into more detail about why all of this is great for team development, for right now, let me lay it on pretty simple – just trust Olivier Giroud.

I don’t think there is anyone on the team who has fought harder for the team and had to put up with more shtick. In fact, I doubt if there is anyone else in football who has received less praise for as much delivered.

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The guy is going to reach the Arsenal 100 club and we are just now getting to a point where he might be appreciated. And that is being thrown off balance by Wenger’s insistence that Lacazette play behind him.

When you get down to it though, it makes total sense. With Alexis Sanchez missing, someone has to fill that role and if Wenger wants to see if Lacazette is capable of it, then let him have at it.

Not just that, but if you are going to be upset at anyone, I’d direct that attention to Danny Welbeck, who has proven time and again that he simply is not a striker. Lacazette should be overtaking the Englishman, not Giroud, who put in a fantastic goal against Western Sydney Wanderers.

Giroud scores goals. Consistent goals. And when he isn’t scoring goals he is pulling defenses with him and letting players behind him score goals. Players like, say Alexandre Lacazette, who sit behind him and prey off of the space Giroud creates.

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There is no reason to panic about Lacazette’s usage because it just means we get to rely on Giroud while surrounding the big man with even more talent. That is all he has ever needed – more options around him. So let’s just sit back, relax, and enjoy the preseason.