Arsenal: Olivier Giroud super-sub return not inconceivable

Olivier Giroud recently made a return to the Emirates Stadium in foreign colours. It is not inconceivable that he could return to Arsenal in the near future on a more permanent basis.

I do not think that Olivier Giroud figures into Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea plans. A false-nine Eden Hazard has been preferred to the Frenchman for large parts of this season and Gonzalo Higuaín was recently brought in on loan. Furthermore, I expect Chelsea to make another expensive forward addition (or two) this summer. Simply put, Giroud’s Chelsea future is uncertain.

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In Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Arsenal have two of Europe’s best strikers. I am not advocating for Giroud to replace either of them. Nonetheless, I’ve previously discussed the importance of ‘secondary goalscorers’ within a Premier League squad. Sir Alex Ferguson benefitted greatly from having multiple goalscorers in his dominant Manchester United teams.

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In football, not every game goes according to plan. In Arsenal’s case, perhaps Lacazette is unable to hold the ball up effectively, perhaps Aubameyang is having another one of those days. If you are chasing a goal, why not give yourself a greater likelihood of scoring by bringing a true aerial threat into the fray?

At a certain point, tactics go out the window in the final third. Chaos and panic ensue, buses are parked, and bodies fly forward. That is why, in my opinion, you need a physical presence, a focal point in the attack, a true aerial threat. Giroud is precisely that.

Lacazette’s hold-up play is criminally underrated, but at 5′ 9″, he is not a true aerial threat. Aubameyang is significantly taller, 6′ 2″, but I would also argue that the same aerial inability is true for him. Giroud is a different beast. Like every striker, he will miss his fair share of chances. Nevertheless, as his winner in the 4-3 win against Leicester City last season showed, he does not need the perfect cross to make an impact. He battles centre-backs, and if he does not score himself, his mere presence often allows extra room for teammates.

I can already hear people asking what such a move would mean for Eddie Nketiah. Although he has struggled in front of goal during recent first-team performances, Nketiah showcased dangerous forward movement and an ability to hold the ball effectively. He also has a prolific goal-record at youth level. He certainly knows where the net is.

The England youth international has bags of potential, and I believe that Arsenal recognise that. He deserves to be given more opportunities in the first team, especially as Danny Welbeck looks destined to leave. In an ideal scenario, Nketiah would be the third-choice striker, the one who would replace Aubameyang and/or Lacazette if, for example, injuries were to occur. Giroud would explicitly be the ‘Plan B’.

The Gunners look set to lose a valuable goalscorer in Aaron Ramsey, so it will be interesting to see how Unai Emery replaces his contributions, especially considering that Mesut Özil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, and Alex Iwobi are hardly prolific goalscorers from midfield. In this scenario, Emery would be replacing Ramsey with a man who has scored over 100 goals for the club. I do not think that that is a bad trade.

Before he left for Chelsea, Giroud was the best ‘Plan B’ that Arsenal could have. Perhaps I am being too sentimental, perhaps Giroud would be unwilling to become a super-sub. However, I do think that bringing him home would be a practical piece of business.