Arsene Wenger has backed Olivier Giroud to play a key role for Arsenal this season, even if the striker remains sidelined at the moment due to injury.
The French international has led the line for the last four seasons, but his late return from the Euros coupled with a toe problem has seen the Gunners use Alexis Sanchez up front to good effect.
However, the Arsenal manager cited his summer exploits, changing the minds of French fans who booed him despite scoring regularly, as a sign of the 30 year old’s character.
“Before the competition, the supporters didn’t want him,” he said. “After, he turned them round and in the end everybody was behind him.
“And that’s one of the strengths of Olivier. Mentally, he is very strong. He has a genuine commitment.”
Touching on criticism of him, from French fans and some at club level too, Wenger admitted it does affect the former Montpellier man, but not so much that he can’t cope, saying, “It does, of course. He’s not in metal. He’s as well sensitive but he’s sensitive and strong.
“Everybody wants to be loved. I’ve never seen anyone who dreams to be hated. But it is to deal with the fact that it doesn’t always go your way that makes a man.
“I am an admirer of Giroud because he has gone through some tough times and everybody bounces back. When his back is to the wall, he has an answer every time.
“When I go into a big game I always know I can rely on him. You know that he’s a kind of guy that when the competition starts he will be with you.”
The season is long and while it’s good to see a new attacking system, there will be times when we need to call on last season’s leading goalscorer.
He remains a couple of weeks away from a return, but when he does come back he certainly has a part to play this season.
Hello, I love you, won’t you tell me your name?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IT1eoIa2Ic
Metal Giroud.
Metal Giroud makes me Solid.
What is he? A little boy? Grown up man like him has to step it up. Fully bearded ass man for nothing.
why is there always stupid comments like yours in every single arsenal article?
Ugh, I totally agree. Fully grown men shouldn’t be feeling feelings. I haven’t felt a feeling since 1982, when I surgically opened my own scrotum so as to insert a third testicle and increase my masculinity. I have seven beards.
Ass man? Is he moonlighting as a proctologist?
Professional wrestler not proctologist http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vYepa_g5WLg
Already missing you loads Giroud. Take your time, recover well and fully and come back stronger, we’re really going to need you in November
Mo-vember, maybe..?
Another Wenger soundbite :
“Everybody wants to be loved. I’ve never seen anyone who dreams to be hated. But it is to deal with the fact that it doesn’t always go your way that makes a man.”
One day someone will write a song with Wenger’s quotes
We will need Giroud, especially in games like Burnley when the opposition park the bus.
I’ve heard some of the players might read arseblog!? So, if you’re reading this giroud – we miss you already, despite Sanchez doing well up front. If we’re going to compete for the title then you have a MASSIVE part to play. Get better quickly and let’s see some of those near post finishes your first games back!!
I heard Sanogo reads Arseblog
It’s those talentless Ex-english players who have at most 10% of Giroud’s ability and the fat fucks in the stands who has never kicked a ball who is criticizing Giroud .
Even though we have changed our attacking style this season, there are going to be games such as Burnley where the false 9 won’t work. We need that physical presence in the box which adds variety to our attack. Also underrated is Giroud’s ability at defending corners against teams who particularly score by headers..
“Everybody wants to be loved. I’ve never seen anyone who dreams to be hated.”
I guess Arsene’s just pretending jose doesn’t exist now? I wish I could.
or for that matter, JT!
there are people who are leading the life to be hated.
MaureenO desperately wants to be loved. That’s why he’s so wiling to throw other peoples money around to gain success, because he knows that without being successful no one would give him the time of day and he’d just be another cunt.
I love Giroud. I can’t wait to see him back on the pitch, though alexis is playing well and I have a good feeling about Lucas. So many forwards! COYG!
He is made of rock
I am made of wood
I love Giroud. His hold-up and link play rocks! I’m eagerly waiting for that clenched fist, tongue out celebration – most preferably at OT!
It’s so refreshing that for the first time in a gazillion years we’ve a squad so deep (especially in midfield and forward positions) that we’re not shitting in our pants with the absence of Giroud, Ramsey, Coquelin, Lucas, Welbeck, Wilshere and Campbell (both out on loan). Long may this continue! UTG!!!
Liking your name pal!
Good to have different options available to you so we can mix it up, But i am happy we are no longer dependent on him for the entirety of the season. Giroud does the best he can ofcourse, and its really more on the managers head that Giroud has become the target of so much critisizm. He was allways put out there to play even when he was clearly struggling for form sometimes going 10+ games without a goal or assist to his name just looking lost. But he had to play because we simply had no one else, And… Read more »
Bollocks. Rips up betting slip, I thought I had a banker at 700,00.1 to 1 on him being entirely made of Tungsten.
I love our HFB. Confident Oli will come back like a new man after his layoff. Not quite LANS, but just what the doctor ordered. Exciting times with Alexis’ form and Lucas waiting in the wings. COYG
I am IRON MAN!!!
Not made of steel? – have you seen his abs?
He’s a human and he needs to be loved, just like everybody else does
I don’t like giroud at all. He’s not d kind of striker that can lead arsenal’s attack to win d title.he’s only good at nodding crosses. He should be playing for mid table teams like west brom and Southampton. I can’ wait for giroud and per to leave arsenal. They are the current setbacks to the Arsenal team.
Spot on! And let’s see those type of strikers that you FIFA players love so much try to beat Burnley or about the other 50% of the teams we face in the Prem.
Thing is we need a variety of tools in our shed to beat all kinds of teams. And Giroud is a bloody good linkup, target man striker and he’s got a habit of scoring at the near post.
Giroud can never give you 20 epl goals in a season.
An excellent option for us.
He is so much more than just a goal scorer (even if his tally improves from year to year…last season at 23)
He is a node for the team to play off and score goals.
We need BOTH the Alexis approach and Giroud’s. Different weapons in the Arsenal to deal with different opposition is always a good thing.
Likely as mentioned, he is having a toe problem. Meanwhile, we also have Lucas to bed in. Wenger has given himself good options in coming months.