Thursday, March 28, 2024

Giroud: I’ve never doubted ‘key player’ Ozil

Few players benefit more from the mastery of Mesut Ozil than Olivier Giroud, so perhaps it’s unsurprising that the Frenchman says he has never doubted the German’s quality, despite the criticism often directed at his teammate.

Ozil was in majestic form as the Gunners routed Huddersfield 5-0 at the Emirates, assisting Giroud and Alexis and grabbing a goal of his own, all within three second half minutes.

The performance earned the midfielder a second man-of-the-match award in quick succession after he’d also impressed against Sp*rs.

“He makes the best choice most of the time,” Giroud purred after the game.

“He knows when he has to pass the ball or to shoot and when you are in a good position you always think he thinks about the assist before scoring, even if he scored tonight.

“I am very happy for him. He is our playmaker and is a key player.

“No, [I] never [doubt him],” he added. “You cannot be at the top level all the time.

“Sometimes people expect the best from you every single game because you are a top player. I can understand that. But we never had any doubts about his quality, that is for sure. He is a top player and we need him.”

For the most part, Giroud has played his Premier League minutes this season as a substitute with Arsene Wenger choosing to divide his squad in two to tackle domestic and Europa League fixtures.

Asked whether he thinks it’s time for some of the ‘second’ string to get more action in the higher profile matches, he responded:

“Yes, but at the moment the Premier League team is doing well. We have the chance to have two good teams because we have got a good squad and everyone tries to step up and give his best for the team.

“We are enjoying playing together in Europe but obviously we all want to play in the Premier League as well, so when the boss wants to put us on the pitch we try to give our best and bring our small cog to the big machine.”

In the absence of Alex Lacazette, who picked up a groin injury, Giroud could well feature on Saturday against Manchester United.

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Santori

Now that Ozil is proving the doubters wrong they will go to Arsenal are in crisis bc they will lose Ozil and Alexis stories.

That fool Ian Wright now saying Ozil is good for “this type of opposition” meaning Huddersfield.

Someone remind him Ozil also did a job on Spurts whom people like him were saying Arsenal would do well to emulate.

Arun

Relax. First up, do not call an Arsenal legend a fool. Wrighty is no fool! Next, let Ozil do the talking on the pitch. He has been off form since the season began before he sprang to life against that lot. We still have a long way to go. Remember we played very well without Mesut at the bridge not a long while ago, and the majority were purring to repeat the same and drop Mesut. If Ozil can carry this form into the next 6 months, he would be Balon d’Or material and Arsenal will challenge for the title,… Read more »

Mein Bergkampf

Yes it would appear Ozil is in a richish vain of form, he performed well in his two previous fixtures, both of which home games. It just seems sometimes as if his performance is an extension of the team performance. If we smash someone 5-0, he will undoubtedly grab the headlines. But when we are struggling, he does little or nothing to force the issue. We have to learn to take criticism and not act like the boy who cried fake news. As of yet, Ozil hasn’t made any pundit eat his words and as much as I hope he… Read more »

caligunner

Played well against Chelsea? Are you kidding? as the game went on we couldn’t create any chances. Arsenal were basically playing not to lose. Couldn’t unlock Chelsea defensively. Lucky that Chelsea offensively aren’t that good.

Stringer+Bell

Ozil has been top of big chances created all season. Ahead of every other other player in league. Not bad for a fella who only turned up last two games. Please stop following narrative

Danger Mouse

Wrighty is normally supportive of Ozil and Arsenal in general. He’s a genuinely passionate fan of the club. Hardly fair (or accurate) to label him a fool.

BromleyGooner

I am confused by all this proving doubters wrong talk and people feeling vindicating that he is indeed world class and always does show this level of fighting. The fact that people who have criticised him for his level of fight in the past (like myself) are now praising him shows that for the last few games he has been playing at a very high level and is fighting for the ball. Surely the fact that everyone is amazed and surprised by how much he is fighting for the ball shows that previously he hadn’t been or am I missing… Read more »

Kwame Ampadu Down

Agreed Bromley Gooner. People give out Bout Ozil not doing enough. Ozil does more & this somehow proves them all wrong ? Bizarre absence of logic.

Kwame Ampadu Down

Amazing how the do gooders on here like you santori give out constantly about a lack of respect but then have no problem calling an Arsenal legend Ian Wright a fool. Respect for all….except for those who disagree with me eh ?
Time to grow up mate.

Swing

So it’s okay to call Arsene a fool dictator moron doesn’t do tactics etc etc. But its a lack of respect to call Ian Wright a fool? Who is the bigger legend.

Bai Blagoi

There is no “bigger legend”. You are either a legend or you are not, but once you are, you are up there in the sky, shining on us together with the other legends, and you are all equal, nobody is brighter or higher than the others.
Except Bergkamp.

ChrisGoona

But when are you a legend?

– Helping your team win a trophy? (Ramsey 2 winning goals)
– Or do you have to be from a team of the past, exempt from the world of social media and internet vile?

My point is, Ramsey is a legend based on how we favorably look at past contributes to our clubs success but the measuring stick is rather selective and skewed by media bias.

Kwame Ampadu Down

No, Swing – clearly it isn’t ok.
My point is though that it’s the height of hypocrisy from people to call out others (who disagree with your opinion) for showing a lack of respect…..but to be perfectly ok to then do it yourself & also to back up others who show a lack of respect…..just because they happen to agree with your opinion.

Gooooooonnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaa

Never call a legend like Wrighty a fool. The guy wears his heart on his sleeves, absolutely loves Arsenal, and is one of the only Arsenal legends/pundits that has always defended Ozil. The point he was making was against a smaller team at home Ozil is deadly. Wasn’t implying that Ozil only performs against smaller teams, just saying that in this sort of game Ozil is unplayable – and he was. Regarding this post, I love giroud’s attitude, always haveand always will. If we were playing anyone other than united I would have started him in Lacazette’s absense. Given it’s… Read more »

Pedant

Good lads. A couple more Ozil assists for Giroud please on Saturday.

Robin van Pussy

Another header against united this Saturday please Olie.

Hank Wankford

Love him but would prefer him on the bench against Utd

Martin

So you would leave the most creative player in England on the bench for such an important match.

Gooooooonnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaa

I think he’s talking about Giroud. I’d also start Giroud on the bench for 2 reasons. 1) He’s the perfect impact sun to bring off the bench, unfortunately for him. 2) you can’t not start Welbeck against united, he loves scoring against them, and is more similar to Lacazette than Giroud is so we can stick to the high pressing game we’ve adopted recently – whereas that would be difficult with Giroud due to his lack of pace. You also know that Mourinho will probably bring on fellaini in the second half and go direct with long balls into the… Read more »

RVAGooner

Can’t believe the Beardilizer admitted to having, I mean being a small cog…

Santori

Can’t say I agree with all this nonsense about Lacazette making a huge diff to our attack. Remember Giroud played an equal half. We did not see ANY drop in terms of fluidity to the team’s attack. Giroud in fact continued the quick one touch/deft touch passing where Lacazette had left off and scored the goal that finally broke them down and was involved in the third. I think the main diff to the team in fact is Ozil. He is on elevated form and playing that extra bit better. That slight diff to one player is translating into a… Read more »

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