Olivier Giroud still has an important part to play in Arsenal’s season, according to Arsene Wenger.
The France international only has four substitute appearances to his name so far with a late return to pre-season and a niggly toe injury keeping him sidelined.
Combined with the flourishing Iwobi-Alexis-Walcott attacking combination, it’s been suggested that the 30-year-old could struggle to get game time even when he’s fit. It’s an assessment that the boss believes is wrong.
“He [Giroud] is an important player in our squad,” said Wenger on Tuesday.
“The squad is not 11, we are 25 players and everybody will contribute at different parts of the season.
“What sometimes looks permanent in October is completely revolutionised in December. We all have only one target: to be successful together, no matter who it is.”
Giroud undertook a ‘soft’ training session with Aaron Ramsey yesterday as he stepped up his rehabilitation. It’s still unclear when the Frenchman will be available for first team action, however, with games coming thick and fast up until Christmas his imminent return should prove very useful.
I really like what he adds to our squad. And with Walcott playing like this, I can really see him making the most of his chances. Excited to see him back, the current competition ought to really bring the best out of him
Both of these guys need to stay away from the barber for a bit
He looks like Ragnar Lothbrock and that’s awesome
Very keen to see abit more lucas as well. Theres some big competition when welbeck comes back! We cant really complain about squad depth this season thats for sure.
Feel terrible admitting it but I’d forgotten about Welbeck! It really is quite spectacular that in the space of, what, 18 months we’ve gone from being wholly reliant on a few players to being able to cope and indeed thrive without Giroud, Ramsey, Coquelin briefly, Welbeck, Wilshere and Mertsesacker. Wenger deserves a lot more praise than he gets from media and probably us for the way he’s constructed this squad (though you could argue it was his fault we were short in the first place if you were being really pessimistic!).
Hope Alexis and Bellarin get a breather soon.
Hopefully Lucas will play tonight in place of Alexis. he needs a breather, and our fringe players need game time in case they need to step-up for a longer spell. Can’t see Bellerin being rested tonight as we are so short at Right-back. I hope Jenkinson gets a run-out next week in the EFL cup.
I was hoping for the same but it’s not to be. I thought Xhaka would have played as he’s out for the next 3 games
And the Boss (Kos) especially
Mesut and Santi also
Haha stretched to make an article out of that one blogs!
A lot of such articles nowadays. Sometimes the same interview is divided into 2 articles. I rarely open any article here other than plauer ratings and by the numbers. Let down by arseblog.
People forget how prolific Giroud can be in little patches, often leading up to Xmas. If we can utilise him in that period and then supplement him when he hits a rough patch of form with Walcott, Lucas and/ or Alexis then we’re golden.
Of course there’s always the chance that actually he only loses his form so rapidly because he’s played basically every game in seasons past. Now he doesn’t need to do that who’s to say he won’t sustain it for a whole year..
Both Giroud and Ramsey will be very valuable additions to our squad when they return. No repeat of fatigue and injury problems come January with guys like these two coming back into the fold with Welbeck hopefully not too far behind.
I’ve got a good feeling about this season….
Having been much maligned, and unfairly so just because he’s not a Suarez/Messi/Bolt hybrid, I think he will now become a firm favourite ad he’ll have the role everyone wants him to be – the perfect option off the bench or starter against the opposition with a more physical approach. At what he’s good at, i.e great at holding up the ball, headers and physical battles, I don’t think there are many better in world football. Long live the HFB!
The way the team is playing with pace and skill,Giroud hold up play won’t work. Presently we are giving our opponents the element of surprise while Giroud type of play gives our opponents the opportunity to regroup and defend in numbers,any place for him is probably in the league cup where it matters little.
LANStastic news
Giroud is a great option from the bench and in certain games where the defence lies deep, but give me pace and movement any day. Ramsey likewise has his value but we seem much better balanced without him at the moment.
What it Wenger seems to be alluding to here is the acknowledgement that he tends to find different formulas during a single season. We’ve had combinations and formulas that run just as perfectly as the model we’re using now – but then Coqzorla got injured in November and literally by December our team had completely changed (both personnel, shape and strategy).
It will be interesting to see how we set up when Giroud is leading the line. It’s a totally different kettle of fish.
Booooorring
Going to be tough for Giroud, Perez and Welbeck when he returns to displace Sanchez as our lead striker with the way he’s been playing and the impact he has had on games all ways (assists, pressing on defense, scoring, drawing defenders, etc.). You have to like what you’ve seen from Perez in his limited action with two great assists tonight and the two goals his last match. Anxious to see him next week vs Reading. Giroud is going to have to be patient as will Ramsey upon their return and know they will get there chance, but Wenger cannot… Read more »