Arsenal: One does not simply replace Olivier Giroud with Karim Benzema

Arsenal have finally heeded Olivier Giroud’s own call for competition, yet now the chatter is focused again on replacing him. This doesn’t happen.

Arsenal spent so many years essentially telling Olivier Giroud “get out there and do something, because we have nothing else.” It was frustrating for fans and for Giroud too, who several times made remarks about how he would welcome competition.

Now he has that, in Alexandre Lacazette, though he is undoubtedly frustrated by the lack of chances he has had to prove himself. As in, he pretty much hasn’t had a chance in the world. Lacazette is the guy now and Giroud is limited to mere cameos and side competitions.

He hasn’t even had a legitimate chance to pull off his usual heroics since Leicester City in match week one.

But now everyone is talking about replacing him. Again. Because apparently it’s been such a slow news week that all we can do is spout off about how Karim Benzema should replace the guy who replaced him in the French National team. Makes sense.

What the people who advocate for this sort of move clearly don’t realize is that one does not simply replace Giroud. And I’m saying that in a facetious tone, but I’m 100% serious. You just don’t.

Especially not with someone like Benzema. Giroud is a Gooner through and through. He has been a part of some spectacular moments with the club and he has suffered through the worst treatment of a player by home town and home country fans that I have ever seen. And he came out stronger than ever, so in a sense, he can’t be all that bitter. Which he isn’t. He is eternally grateful.

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When given the chance to leave, he chose not to. He had more yet to prove with his club and the only way to prove those things was to stay. Which he did.

Giroud is a target man and a useful one at that. Only Harry Kane had a more efficient goal scoring record last season than our big Frenchman. And while you can make the argument that he hasn’t been as effective this year, you can also go ahead and remember that Giroud is a long-term bounce-backer. As in, he will bounce back in a big way, it just sometimes takes awhile to get there.

Not just that, but it’s hardly the big man’s fault that his effectiveness has been off this year. The problem has just been that the Gunners aren’t utilizing him properly. If at all. This man requires service. He requires the luxury of proper service and being allowed to utilize his superb physical abilities.

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When he’s in the side competitions, he doesn’t get the kind of service he can from the first team. When he does, he scores goals like he did against Red Star Belgrade. One does not simply replace that.

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