Arsene Wenger has praised Olivier Giroud’s continued improvement after watching his striker net his eighth goal of the season in the 5-0 win over Aston Villa.
The French international has been in sparkling form since returning from a three month lay-off with a broken foot, netting five goals in his last seven starts, to take his total tally in Arsenal colours to 47.
Reflecting on the year-on-year progress made by his compatriot, Wenger told Arsenal Player:
“He’s much more focused, technically he has improved, his feet have improved, his movement has improved and he has a big presence in the game. It’s no coincidence that when he comes back, you feel strong.”
Whether Giroud gets the opportunity to complete his half century of Gunners goals with a hat trick against Sp*rs next weekend remains to be seen. Taken off with 20 minutes remaining on Sunday, Wenger admitted the 28-year-old had picked up a knock.
“He got a kick during the game and I was a bit cautious with him,” added the boss. “We could give another opportunity to Chuba Akpom and he has shown that he has quality when he comes on as well.”
Meanwhile, Theo Walcott says Arsene Wenger has hammered home the importance of starting games quickly. The Gunners have taken first half leads in seven of their last eight games, winning on each occasion they’ve edged ahead.
“We started very well,” Walcott said after the win against Villa.
“That’s been the message from the manager to us players – that we need to start well. We’ve been doing that in the last four, five or six games and the results will go our way when we’re 100 per cent at it.
“We’ve continued to do that and you could see at the end that we wanted to score more goals. That’s the sign of a confident team.”
I think one of the reason for his good form, is that he has kept his ‘big presence’ in his pants before matches.
Oh enough of the male genitalia innuendo on these pages 😉
*Obligatory Coq joke*
but don’t forget that the penis mightier than the sword
He’s come on a lot, key player for us.
Na na na na…
If this was a continuation of the sex scandal theme jokes, take my thumbs up sir
Indeed, he became a very important player who offers a very different option than our technically gifted forwards! He is strong, holding the ball well and direct! I dont care about his less technical side!!!!!!! Na na na naaaaa……
Wha does technical mean? I thought it means good ball control, good vision, good passing? If so, he has all of that. I think you mean he can’t beat a man, but that’s not because of a lack of ‘technical’ ability, that’s because he is about as fast as a 3 legged tortoise.
“He’s come on a lot”
Mate, what he does in his private time is his own business….
This is gunna be a long week…
We are hitting some really good form as we head to White hart lane this weekend but so are the Spu*s. Will need the same quick start that day! COYG!
This season he’s shown he can score against the big teams too. He’s also scored a couple from long range (vs Man C in community shield and vs Man u). Would’ve definitely been 2nd at least if not for his and Koscielny’s injuries
Na na na giroud. Gorgeous frenchman
Hang about, its transfer deadline day. When was the last time we were this relaxed on deadline day?
And Blogs where’s the TDD live blog?
What are we paying you for?
Grrrrrr
Nobody wants to do a TDD and have to acknowledge that Chelsea got 24 million of Schurrle
He’s far from technically perfect when it comes to ball control, but his passing and finishing has improved massively over the last 2 years. I can’t think of a striker more suited for us at the moment.
The thing that makes Giroud such an interesting player is his creativity. He’s not just a big lump of a center forward. It’s rare to see someone of his size and build with such a range of passing. The assist for Ozil is an example but probably his trademark is the little flick around the edge of the box. Very few people of his body type can manage those. To say his finishing has improved is a little bit misleading too. He was a great finisher for Montpellier, winning them the title in a hugely impressive way. You can watch… Read more »
His touch and control are amazing. Remember that goal vs WHU last season? He had some brilliant take downs vs city too. It’s his dribbling that seems a bit ungainly haha
Our counterattack game is becoming quite lethal now that we’re confident enough to concede a bit of possession and space.
With Giroud holding up play, our speed and directness in the channels and Cazorla/Ozil/Rosicky pulling strings, we have some great days to look forward to. We’re starting to see signs of the squads potential.
It’s an exciting time for Gooners!
The picture looks like he’s doing a ballet dance
it’s simple, look at our attack and the way we played while he was out and look at the difference he has made with him in the attack. we are simply a better team, regardless of if he gets on the scoresheet or not, with him in the squad. he’s easily the most underrated and under-appreciated players on the team and in the EPL for that matter. people have unnecessarily bashed him for too long, it’s time they give him his due respect. both ends of the pitch, the guy works his socks off. love me some G$.
His finishing was excellent for Montpellier. Look at a youtbue clip of his goals for them in the season they won the league, they’re fantastic. The ratio of spectacular goals is phenomenal, on a level with Podolski or the dutch skunk. He seems to be slowly getting back to that level, which is great to see. Long may it continue.
Where’s rambling Pete ?
Ramblin on
Eloped with FatGooner
He’s an old-fashioned burly target-man center-forward who happens to have a surprisingly delicate touch, intelligent movement (with cruising-bruising runs like an American Tight End). I like how he has had to work hard to emerge from the French lower leagues and feel secure with his presence on defensive set pieces (unlike TGSTEL) wonder if he could eventually reinvent himself as a very effective central defender in his twilight years, while aging gracefully like a footballing Clooney. I would probably still be nursing a platonic/unhealthy man-crush on him then if he hadn’t spoiled it all by cheating on his wife with… Read more »
I’m just looking forward to Harry Kane getting bullied by coq and super tom scoring another scorcher. Have to say this is the first time in years that we have had not just a great first XI but also a sensational bench. Long may this depth continue
That’ll be ‘cos we built a shiny new stadium. #Hatersgonnahate #Allgonequietnow
Good player, but I still think we could do better up top than Giroud or Welbeck. But that is just my personal opinion. Looking at the strikers of the teams that win league titles including our own in the past, there are usually a world class striker up top, like we had in Henry last time we won it, or City have in Aguero, Athletico Madrid had in Costa whom is currently leading the charge of the current PL league leaders, Like United had in Van Persie after tye cunt left us, andLiverpool allmost made it on the back of… Read more »
How about a certain Chilean…
I see Alexis as a world class winger
AS17 mahfucka
We need to smash that boy Kane with a nice two footer on Saturday
Blimey Jonny ,we all hate the Spores but there’s no need for that fella.
Sorry, paying too much attention to BBC commentary 😉
Nah, lets two-foot Phil Neville…
Ok harry Kane! First he’s been pictured in arsenal jersey while young. Remember the saying ‘once a gooner always a gooner’? Now he has grown up and playing for the Spuds, I’m I the only one thinking that he’s face looks like an idiot? Our defense put aguero into anonymity, he was hardly visible during that game. So don’t be surprised if he hardly sees the ball. COYG
We would still be in the title race if we did not lose Giruod for those three months…he is that important to the way we play. Very underrated player if you ask me.
my thoughts exactly. there is no question about it.
No he’s not underrated. Not world class, just decent.
Happy he’s in a good run of form and all, but I find it rather patronizing when all of a sudden he’s the second/third best striker in the league according to some people and how he mops the floor with falcao, etc.
People are starting to get carried away,
not as carried away as those wankers calling for the manager’s head ……….
do you believe it?
a buinch of nobodies with 0 expreince in football DEMANDING wenger follows their words/advise or else….
thank fucking god this club is owned/managed by serious people who dont give a shit what a few clowns say in their black scarves after a couple of pints …….
He’s a really good player. I don’t think he’s a title-winning striker (although Alexis certainly is), but he’s been a good purchase considering what we paid for him.
Is it be cause you is religious that you are sooooo miserable in you out look, Tobin?
No, it’s because he made a valid point.
It’s funny how football experts here bark that he is just average and bang! He scores! He’s been doing it since he came. What else do you want?
Pundits say you need a 20+ goal-a-season striker to have a chance of winning the league…And that is what Olivier Giroud is. Check his stats (goal per game ratio) since arriving at the Emirates
Giroud scored 11 and 16 LEAGUE goals in his first 2 seasons.
Decent, but not world class.
trez is a deluded cunt who expects nothing less than romarios batistutas and baresis …because thats the world class standard he was used to before wenger took over and ruined this giant of a football club and the terror of the bayerns/milans/madrids.
Kona is a butthurt fanboy who’s hurt because I gave an honest assessment of his boyfriend giroud.
Awww did I hurt your feelings?? Does the truth hurt??
See I say it as it is…I won’t pretend your boyfriend is world class because he hss “nice hair”.
More so than 20 goal strikers, the key is big game players or game changers. The more you have these type of players the chances of winning the league increases. Arsenal at this point doesn’t seem to have much stock. Though Alexis is a game changer and Giroud seems to be getting goals against big teams. If Ozil, Theo and Cazorla can step up. We can still give Chelsea a good run.
great player to have in our squad but not world class
Another striker of Alexis’s standard would take us to another level IMO
Some stats that might give some insight in Giroud’s creativity, compared with other top BPL strikers:
http://www.squawka.com/comparison-matrix#premier_league/2014/2015/olivier_giroud/126/126/115/0/p|premier_league/2014/2015/sergio_agüero/126/126/564/0/p|premier_league/2014/2015/diego_costa/126/126/1550/0/p|premier_league/2014/2015/robin_van_persie/126/126/195/0/p|premier_league/2014/2015/charlie_austin/126/126/10903/0/p#total_passes/total_forward_passes/key_passes/chances_created/pass_completion/shot_accuracy#90
Also showing some of his weaknesses.
Giroud is in fantastic form at the moment and as a result should be one of the first names down on the sheet….. is he world class though? Personally, I think the jury’s still out. Does it matter? Personally, not the way he’s playing currently. Last season I felt he needed too many chances before he found the net, doesn’t seem to at the moment though. Having said that, I love the other aspect of his game and feel like we’ve missed this type of centre forward for many years now. I think there are games where Giroud is the… Read more »