Olivier Giroud says that the team has to do its job defensively, but suggested that if scoring more goals would also be a help.
The Frenchman made his first start since August in the 1-0 win over West Brom on Saturday, and showed that his link-up play with Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez could add another dimension to the Arsenal attack.
While the team have had their struggles at the back, the HFB reckons being more clinical at the other end should be a target.
“We have to learn how to close games out when we are winning. We must all defend together and maybe we have to have more of a killer touch in front of goal,” he said.
“Each game we can have a lot of chances to score. We need to take them.”
He also spoke about the future with a three-ponged attack (not to mention Theo Walcott on his way back too), and how he’s feeling at an Arsenal going through a difficult time.
“I feel really good at this club. The fans are amazing, the players are fantastic and that is important. We can do big things with this team. I think we have a good understanding, particularly with the new players.
“There is good competition and we can play together, definitely. Me, Danny, Alexis Sanchez, we are confident playing together.”
Meanwhile, Danny Welbeck is hoping his first Arsenal since October will open the floodgates for him.
“I’ve had a couple blocked off the line in recent games”, he said, “and it just wasn’t going my way, but I’ve got the goal and I’m just looking forward to scoring more and helping the team to win games.”
Scoring goals DOES help you win games… I think he’s on to something, this handsome French lad
Have we finally found our left winger in Welbeck? He was great there I think both offensively and defensively; got a goal, link up play was good, won more tackles than any other player.
Cazorla now has put in 3 great performances through the middle, so surely he should retain his place against the Saints.
He’s a surprisingly good option there but, like Walcott, he wants to play up top. And unlike Walcott, I don’t think he’ll settle for the wing. I reckon Wenger will regularly rotate him and Giroud in the CF roleAgree Santi should be kept on in the middle, he’s earned it.
Yes but, what about Ozil? And where is he btw?
Too many injuries and a settled team yet to fully emerge but they are gradually getting back there. Walcott’s return will help in the goal situation…he is a proven scorer at this level. As an aside; if we have our first team and subs playing regularly for any length of time, I have a feeling one unlucky team will get a good hiding. This team on a good day can score 7 goals with Walcott, Sanchez, Giroud, Welbeck, Ozil, Carzola, Ramsey, Wilshere, Arteta, Ox, and our backline all fit. The bench would be something else. A man can afford to… Read more »
And i hope that unlucky team is Chelsea this season.
LOL. Could give an arm to see that happen. The look on their coach would be priceless.
It will bring a bitting attack and hitting Defence if our games can be play that way!
Maybe I don’t watch enough of other teams to say for sure but it really feels like an absurd shots to goal conversion rate we probably have. More goals would obviously be great, but I think let’s focus on keeping our defensive work tight for the moment. It’s nice. And it’s the “hey guys, let’s run forward with one man back and get more goals” attitude that has stunned us into draws and losses as of late. He’s right about clinical, but hopefully it doesn’t get twisted into crazy attacks. Get used to defending properly again, then look into accommodating… Read more »
Well that is the thing. We attack enough throughout the 90, we just ain’t efficient enough. Santi provided a great scoring opportunity for Welbz but apart from that we didn’t have many other clear chances. I think this is where we miss Ozil. I just can’t see how Cazorla and Ozil fit into the 11 together when he is back. They both like being on the ball and creating, plus if you play both you are losing 1 or the wider men as a goal scoring threat…
One thing that pleased me about the West Ham game, our front 5, Sanchez-Giroud-Welbeck-Cazorla-Ramsey, all capable of scoring goals. It’s been long since we had that, earlier it used to be ‘all possession but no one in the box’ but now, we have Sanchez, Danny waiting for those tap ins, Ramsey, Ox, making those dashes. I really think Rosicky will excel in this formation with all his running and mozartry! Would be interesting to see if Wenger changes things once Theo and Ozil return. I like this look! Just hope Poldi and Rozza get to play more. Especially Poldi for… Read more »
West Brom*
Let’s just hope Sanchez gets his rest. I have this niggling feeling that come December fixtures and Sanchez will be fatigued. 🙁
This team has so much promise. I have no doubt in my mind that we would be challenging to the very end with Chelski and Citeh had we had a similar record to theirs with injuries. It is costing us every season. I get why people are bored and tend to blame the manager for the lack of success but much of it (not all) is down to the injuries. He made a huge mistake in not getting a defender in before the season started but at this rate he would have needed to sign another 4. Surely there is… Read more »
Last season our 3rd centre back left due to not getting enough game time. This season he’d be fatigued!
Hehe. Though to be fair, i guess we knew he was crocked and pulled a smart one over Barca.
Right now he’s so fatigued he won’t be playing for 5 months. The Arsenal effect.
Speaking of defending together, there is this Brazilian kid we’ve been linked with in recent days (I know! I know!) Lucas Silva is the name. If it true and if we get him, he will be a huge coup. He is a DM with abundant vision and amazing passing range. Think about a prototypical Wenger player, you’ll see this guy picture. He goes from steel to silk in a nano second. But with the Madrids of the world after him, it’s next to impossible we’ll get him. You heard it here first, super star in the making.
Having just watched a youtube clip of him, I think you may have just highlighted the one player in world football who likes a cross-field pass more than Gerrard.
We don’t need to score more, we need to be more clinical, which is not exactly the same thing. We can score a lot by throwing everyone forward but we saw what that tactic lead to…
Would you not then score more if you’re more clinical?
You would swear by his comments that it had nothing to do with him. We have needed to score more goals since we bought him.
42 goals in 104 games suggests that’s not really been his fault.
very few of those goals have been the winning goal. As a striker, he’s a dud.
42 in 104 is great right?? less than 1 in 2 matches??
Not sure how many guaranteed 35+ goal strikers there are in world football that wouldn’t cost upwards of £50 million….
Be great to see Alexis, Welbeck and Giroud fire in a goal each on Wednesday night. Again at the weekend against the thugs aswell
Well YOU’RE suppose to be our “first choice striker” so you should be telling yourself that.
You weren’t exactly clinical last season.
I think we should get the knack of the beautiful art of “defending as a team” first, like we did against West Brom and Dortmund, before we start clamoring for more goals pleeease!….the goals will always come naturally from our style of play, its our weaker defensive play that is holding it back
I don’t know how people can slate Girouds goal scoring record, I wonder how many passes he has made that have also led to goals? We play off him, and his little flicks and cute passes make him even more worthwhile playing through the middle. I think you will see that more and more now there is pace around him.