Arsenal and France striker Olivier Giroud is a strange animal. At 30 years of age, he has proven he can score goals in the Premier League, yet something stops the Frenchman from being prolific.
He is not the quickest striker in the league. However, he has a good physique and takes many of his chances in front of goal.
At Arsenal, he is much maligned for not being Karim Benzema or Gonzalo Higuain, the strikers Arsenal fans have longed for during the last few seasons.
Giroud is definitely not Higuain or compatriot Benzema. However, he has something about him that suggests he could thrive under the right conditions.
Has a decent goalscoring ratio at Arsenal
The former Montpellier striker has a very respectable goalscoring record for Arsenal. The striker has scored 98 times in 227 appearances for the team from north London in all competitions. Meanwhile, he has also produced 41 assists, which shows that he is a team player.
No doubt if he moved elsewhere, he would score goals. Maybe a new boss could get something extra out of the French striker. An extra 10 per cent that could help him score 20 goals in a Premier League campaign, something he has failed to do at Arsenal in five seasons.
The strikers best ever goalscoring campaign of his career remains his last season with Montpellier when he scored 21 goals in Ligue One in a remarkable campaign for the club.
Only going to play fewer minutes next season
Olivier Giroud found himself kicking his heels on the Arsenal bench for a large chunk of last season. Chilean star Alexis Sanchez was often preferred to Giroud in the central striking role.
Giroud made 29 Premier League appearances last season, but only started 11 of those games, making 18 substitute appearances. His low tally of 12 goals and 3 assists in the English top-flight was understandable considering his lack of playing time.
Giroud’s situation has become even worse this summer. The Gunners have finally signed the long-awaited ‘upgrade’ to Giroud in compatriot Alexandre Lacazette. The former Lyon star is undoubtedly more prolific, even if he has been plying his trade in Ligue One.
The club record signing will be first choice striker there is no doubt about it next season. The 26-year-old has been brought in to finish off the platitude of chances Arsenal seem to create each game.
Worse still for Giroud’s first-team chances next season, it looks like Alexis Sanchez may well stay at the club after all. It is not looking good for the striker’s starting chances next season.
Would be in-demand
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has stated he wants Giroud to stay. Meanwhile the striker has told the media he is honestly unsure about his future in north London.
Everton, West Ham and Marseille are all reportedly ready to offer the striker an escape route from Arsenal this summer. Everton are current the favourites to sign the striker at odds of 7/5, while he is only odds of 6/5 to stay at Arsenal.
Giroud would definitely not be short of offers if indeed he were to leave Arsenal this summer. At 30 he still has a good few years left in him at the top level. The good thing about the striker is he will not lose his pace, as he never had any in the first place, so ageing should not be as much of a problem as some other players.
Olivier Giroud is a good striker in my eyes. It would be a waste of what is left of his career for him to sit on the Arsenal bench next season. I would certainly not turn my nose up at Giroud arriving at Goodison in the near future that is for sure.
