Arsenal: Olivier Giroud can still be Alexandre Lacazette’s equal

Arsenal had a spotty masterclass against Huddersfield town and, in the process, Olivier Giroud may have proved himself Alexandre Lacazette’s equal.

For once, for once, Olivier Giroud was sent onto the pitch with an actual impetus on Arsenal‘s attack. Every single match, bar Leicester City, that he has come on in, or started in, he has either been in the presence of, for lack of a better word, lesser team mates, or he has come into a game that is already done and dusted.

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Against Huddersfield Town he finally, finally had a chance to prove that, given the right service and the right movement around him, that he can and will compete with Alexandre Lacazette.

Lacazette opened the scoring in the second minute and was superb off the ball throughout his 45 minutes. His anticipation and timing is just on point and it is only going to get better with time, as he settles into his role even more.

But when an injury concern forced him off at half with the score a nervy 1-0, Olivier Giroud was given his chance. The impetus was still on the attack and he would have his chance to show that he still has so much to give.

It didn’t start well. He had a fantastic opportunity to put the Gunners up 2-0 in the 57th minute, but his chip struck the post squarely and the big, goal-starved Frenchman let out a cry to the heavens.

His cries were answered, because he would score just two minutes later, tucking the ball in at the near post for a slick, smooth finish. And thus the floodgates opened.

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From there, Giroud was an active member of the attack, flicking the ball on, laying off, and fitting in just like he always had. While Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil swam around him, Giroud was the backboard. He completed all ten of his passes, which, even in such a small quantity, is mighty impressive.

And while yes, Giroud could technically have scored at least four, you have to grant him a bit of leeway to shake off the rust. This was, after all, the first time he has played 45 minutes in the Premier League all season.

In my estimation, Giroud proved that he is every bit as useful to this attack as Lacazette in the small sample size that we now have. Consider that he is even scoring goals more frequently than his French counterpart.

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There is still a ways to go for Giroud, but getting him back into the positive will make this season a hell of a lot easier knowing that he is still just as deadly as ever.