Arsenal: Olivier Giroud staying fulfils his perfect role

Olivier Giroud has stated that he is an Arsenal player, suggesting he will remain in North London next season. His staying means that he can fulfil his perfect role: complementing Alexandre Lacazette.

Ever since his signing in 2012, Olivier Giroud has worked dutifully as Arsenal’s starting centre-forward. Although never boasting the clinical, prolific nature of those before him — Thierry Henry, Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie — he worked tirelessly with the tools and the traits that he had, endearing himself to some of the fans.

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However, as Arsene Wenger has continually adapted the style that he demands of his players, he has veered away from what Giroud provides. No longer does he want a striker who excels with his back to goal, with the ability to hold play up, bring onrushing midfielders into the game with neat touches here and there, offering a focal point for a sometimes misguided and lost attack.

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Wenger, as evidenced by the club-record £52 million signing of Alexandre Lacazette, wants a more mobile, dynamic centre-forward, someone who can stretch the play with his pace, darting into the channels, opening up pockets of space for the likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to conjure their creative magic.

Lacazette’s introduction relegates Giroud to a reserve role. As a result, there have been incessant rumours all summer linking the Frenchman with a move away from the Emirates, in search of a regular, starting role. However, speaking to French media after Arsenal’s Community Shield win over Chelsea on Sunday, Giroud strongly implied that he would be staying:

"“I am an Arsenal player. I have a two-year contract, at least.”"

That is important. Despite Lacazette being the assumed starter, playing in a style that Wenger is wanting to implement, sometimes, plan A can be foiled. Playing with pace and dynamism is all well and good, but if the opposing defence sits deep, suffocates the space in behind and camps on the edge of their box, remaining disciplined and positionally sound in its defensive structure, sometimes a brutish way is required.

That is where Giroud enters his element. He and Lacazette are completely opposite players. One is sharp and agile, buzzing in and around the penalty area, but lacks the height or the physical stature to ever bully his way to goal; the other is lumbering and lethargic but is able to make up for it with sheer strength, size and aerial dominance.

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These are two very different players. And that is why it’s important that Giroud is staying. Having a number of ways to score makes a team that much more potent, and with Giroud and Lacazette in the squad, Arsenal have that in spades. Giroud’s staying means he can fulfil his perfect role: complementing Lacazette.