Arsenal: Olivier Giroud cements his perfect purpose

Olivier Giroud scored another late goal to secure an Arsenal win against Red Star Belgrade on Thursday, cementing his perfect purpose in the squad.

Arsenal overcame Red Star Belgrade on Thursday night with a little difficult. Although they were always in control of the game, bar a couple of vulnerable moments in the first half, they never created the avalanche of chances that many expected.

Related Story: Arsenal Vs Red Star Belgrade: 5 things we learned

However, thanks to a piece of brilliance from Jack Wilshere, intelligence from Theo Walcott, and ingenuity and inventiveness from Olivier Giroud, the Gunners head home with three points in their back pocket, sitting atop the group with nine points from nine.

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

In his post-match press conference, there was one particular comment from Arsene Wenger that was especially poignant. When speaking of Giroud and the crucial late goal, Wenger revealed that the Frenchman, prior to scoring, came over to him and told him that he was going to score:

"“At some stage, he came to the touchline and told me we will score. Certainly, he knew more than I did, but that’s Giroud, he keeps belief when it’s tough. That’s why maybe he scores at moments you do not expect him to score.”"

Such confidence, nigh on arrogance, is rare, and, if misplaced, can be undermining. But for Giroud, scoring late goals is his speciality. In fact, in the latter years of his Arsenal tenure, he is chiselling it out his perfect purpose: The late-game goal-getter.

This season, Giroud has scored three goals — two in the Europa League and one in the Premier League. Only one of them has come before the 85th minute. Moreover, both of those goals were winning goals in games that were won by just one goal.

And it is not just this year that he has proven his importance late in games. Last season, Giroud scored 12 Premier League goals. Of those 12, eight of them came on or after the 75th minute. 75% of Giroud’s goals are coming in the final 15 minutes of games, when it really matters.

Moreover, in the Premier League, if you were to take away Giroud’s goals from every game, Arsenal would have been five points worse off. Now, that is obviously an exercise that does not tell the whole picture. But it does serve to show not only the number and the lateness of Giroud’s goals, but also the importance of them,

Next: Arsenal Vs Red Star Belgrade: Player ratings

When Alexandre Lacazette arrived in the summer for a club-record £47 million, it was clear that Giroud’s time as the primary starting striker was over. As Giroud himself revealed, he was extremely close to leaving the club altogether. But he stayed, he worked hard, and he carved out a role for himself. Giroud may have lost his starting place. But as a reserve, he may just be more valuable that he has ever been.