Arsene Wenger says that in-form striker Olivier Giroud can improve even further after his goal against Crystal Palace helped the Gunners to three points on Saturday.
The strike was the Frenchman’s 8th in 11 games, and his 11th of an injury hit season over, drawing praise from his manager who remarked on the progress he’s made since joining the club.
“When I brought him here, and when you look at him today, I think there’s a hell of a difference,” Wenger said.
“That’s credit to him – to the player he was and the player he is today, plus credit for his whole season, where he has worked very hard. I think there’s still room for improvement for him.”
The manager was happy with the display in the context of a very difficult game against a committed, hard-working Palace side.
“He had an important part in a game as direct as that, to keep the ball, to close them down,” he said. “Overall he had a great contribution. I’m happy for him.”
The goal was also his 50th in an Arsenal shirt since his £10m capture from Montpellier in the summer of 2012, leaving the HFB a happy man at the moment.
“I’m really pleased with my statistics and I try to help the team as much as I can to win the games,” he said.
“I feel really good with my body and the games.”
We’re sure his body does feel really good. Erm … anyway.
He is doing great, let’s hope he keeps it going for the rest of the season.
Given our run of games third spot is looking good.
He is one of the under rated players in the league! As for us, he compliments to other speedy and tecnical players very well. I love him! Bonus point, he is handsome as well
I dunno, just about everyone says how good he is, and how useful he si to the team, and all the great work he’s done; that seems like being rated rightly, rather than under-rated to me.
Then again, I’m sure there are still some who would use the word ‘donkey’ to describe him, but I think they tend to pipe down while he’s scoring goals.
Don’t worry DS, they’ll be back. They always come back.
I really don’t think he’s that handsome.
Its interesting that these comments come after this game. I think, minus the gaol, Giroud had a pretty bad game. I do understand that he was marked pretty tightly and no one in Arsenal played amazing, but he misplaced a number of passes he normally makes in this game. It may have been because of the field but he was pretty frustrating in this game. Normally he holds the ball up way better than he did against Palace.
The last line though…..lol
I love his attitude. You see the desire to improve written all over him. He also genuinely loves the club; not like the ones who would kiss the badge today and jump ship next minute. I hope he stays fit because our shape is better with him on the pitch. Welbeck is not doing badly either.
Our team generally, is stronger than at any time in the past nine years. I am excited about the immediate future – we shall win more trophies with this team.
Just watched the highlights on arsenal dot com after reading Wenger’s comments on Giroud. Is it just me or did Zaha nearly kick of Rosicky’s head before the shot leading to the goal? Should have been a foul?
Maybe Pardew can have a go at everyone over that too.
yeah I was wondering how that was missed. Rozza, being himself, just went about as if nothing happened!
May not be world class in the eyes of many but a very good striker none the less. His skill-set makes us a better team when he plays.
Credit to arsene. The media have had countless go at giroud for lack of technique and abilities. I think he has improved immensely this season. I hope he continues this way and earn us a 3rd place, or second (who knows??)
Remember when so many people were frothing at the mouth that we bought Giroud rather than Benteke? …And how’s Benteke doing now? I’m with you. Credit to Arsene. (And to Olivier himself!)
Benteke? Who?
Melo? MVilla related?
Who?
If the media had their way, we would have to buy Joey Barton.
All in all, for 10m, Oli Giroud is really up there with Wenger’s best buys. He may not be the beast CF (Cavani and so forth) that the rest of the best clubs would be jealous at us for, but he is a hell of a team player, he really carved out his role in the team and learned to play Wengerball. I couldn’t be happier for him at the moment, as it’s always lovely to see a player keeping on improving even as he gets closer to his 30s. I love myself a late-bloomer.
Cavani isn’t all he’s cracked up to be, given the hype that causes an inflated price tag alongside the toxic use of the word ‘world class’.
Much prefer Giroud in our system thanks! Efficient. Helps the team out. Scores goals. Defends. Is a handsome lad. Fantastic purchase by Arsene.
Actually cavani does all giroud can do and even more. Has more pace and is a better finisher. However he has been totally ruined at psg and doesn’t have Wenger as his manager.
Remind me what being handsome has to do with anything again?
I actually tend to agree, of all the strikers out there Cavani is the one guy who I reckon would be a definite upgrade whilst providing similar things.
Not so sure about the ‘so forth’, any other striker would probably end up leaving us short somewhere (literally, in some cases), very few guys with Giroud’s work rate, presence, holdup play, and goalscoring abilties.
Lewandowski maybe, but I’m not sure about his work-rate or strength.
Lewandoski too…but his finishing is a bit overrated. Much more mobile than Giroud and very skillful too.
There’s a reason why wenger is a big fan of Benz, Cavani and Suarez.
imo lewa has this tendency to gone missing. If he would be scoring a lot, then that’s not a problem, but he’s not scoring anywhere that many.
I do not really think cavani and Falcao are really that beast of a forward. They are good but I would only place them at Totti/ bastituta level. They may be more pacey but giroud one touch is better.
If giroud work more on his strength and I really mean body strength and shot power, he could be our next bastituta and or even Christian veiri.
When that day comes, he will definitely displace benzema in the national team, and fans can stop whining how he is not benzema.
Come on…Giroud IS NOT better than benzema. I find funny how he’s underrated on this thread(maybe its because he doesn’t play for us).
Except maybe one game, benzema was fucking awful at WC.
You must have been watching a different tournament.
Totti is a legend, leave him alone. And a totally different player to our Giraud, different styles of play.
Christian Vieri is the perfect comparison to Giroud, I think. Classic pure striker, strong, thunderous left foot, etc. As long as our HFB can keep his confidence level high, he can be as great as he wants to be.
Vieri was a better finisher, but you’re right. Giroud probably has better ball control.
Though he’ll never get that fear factor that vieri had in his heydays
Agreed. I must admit seeing the season he had before we signed him up, I was really disappointed how he played for the last 2 seasons. This season he’s impressed me a bit and has improved. Just don’t like when people come with this him being in the top 10 nonsense. He’s a decent striker.
I’m finding it a bit hard to believe that Wenger said “hell of a difference”, given his usually eloquent vocabulary.
I’ve been hung up on that turn of phrase since the moment I read this interview of the gaffer. Not that I’m going to get pedantic or anything, but it does seem atypical of Monsieur W.
You read my mind. Thought blogs made that bit up at first.
Greater things to Happen for the Arsenal..
HFB is a solid striker – bordering on great – but may fail to see the intelligence in his play. That’s mainly why he is constantly criticised.
If he continues this way he will be one of the premier leagues best strikers for goals per minute played this year: and really that is the only comparable measure. Twitter would have bought Balotelli…
I like him but he ain’t no HENRY/BERKAMP ….
Keep comparing players to them and You’re gonna have a bad time.
Well thank goodness, because they’re in their late thirties.
Our readers irony radar seems low today. Very low indeed.
It might be if you totally re-define the word ‘irony’.
We’ve extracted great value.
Whilst I’d like an upgrade, I see the centre of defence and our midfield as more of a priority this summer.
Unless Gabriel flops we’re sorted at CB imo, two guys in their prime, one in decline and one developing youngster.
He’s not the fastest or most eloquent on the ball, but his desire to improve and adapt his game to those around him make him a true asset to the team. I honestly think that he would challenge any ‘world class’ striker for first team football at this club.
I look forward to his hatrick against manure in the FA cup
Having a decent season considering his leg was broken in the middle (of the season, not the leg)
Giroud is the veritable pole in May…connecting all the brightly coloured ribbons in a merry dance…let the likes of Ozil, Sanchez and Cazorla forever prance around this Gallic oak.
Amen.
I think the impact of signing Welbeck should not be underestimated here. While Giroud is clearly first choice at the moment, he has genuine competition from Welbz this season and cannot afford to coast, which may have been a criticism of him in the past.
Pus Welbeck is still only 23yrs. Plenty of time for improvement. Giroud is close to 29yrs. Should be coming into his peak years (they tend to be getting later) much like Santi.
Oli’s engine is well Oil. he has so far proven his critics wrong:
1) he can only score in London
2) he cant score against big teams
3) he is too slow
4) he has never scored à hat trick
the first two is out of the picture and fuck the speed thing, he uses his technique to compliment that plus we ve got Alexis, Walcot, Chambo, Welbeck to that. And oh wait à minute, he is waiting to do the hat trick thing at old traford, back to back (pl and fa cup).
There certainly have been big improvements in his game this season especially on the defensive side of the ball. I have often seen him tracking back deep to help defend as he has rotated out wide at times to allow Sanchez, Welbeck and even Ozil to run through the middle at times. Previously he would pretty much walk around up top when the ball was back in our half while we were defending, but he is so much more involved in our defensive efforts now which is great. The biggest issue I’ve had with him on offense is his insistence… Read more »
Like I’ve said before, he’s a good striker but I’m yet to be convinced he’s good enough to win us the league. I’m ready to be convinced, but he’ll need to maintain his current goalscoring prowess for a significantly longer period of time AND against the top teams in order to change my mind. His goalscoring record for Arsenal over the length of his career with us is not that impressive. Strikers tend to go hot and cold, let’s wait and see how he performs over a sustained period of time before we start talking him up too much.
True…but unfortunately fans of his hair and good looks will not agree with you.
He’s in great form at the moment, but he has a lot to do in other to prove himself as a GENUINE WORLD CLASS striker.
Contrary to what they say, 50 in 116 does not make him a top 10 striker.
He’s clearly not a Henry but he is no mug either. He is a different type of player to suit our needs because of the composition in our squad. We need his hold up play and physical presence to free up our midfield assets. Welbeck is more a combination of Henry’s pace and Giroud’s physical play. Down the line, Sanogo is incubating ( a more like for like to Giroud) and there is Akpom (more on the pace side like Welbeck). We may yet add from market too when Giroud does leave but till then, our assets up there are… Read more »
Wenger has this gift of maximizing players potential by believing in them. Credit to Giroud for picking Wenger as his coach, other players should take notice.