Olivier Giroud used to be ridiculed for his inability to score against big teams and on the big stage. In fact up until the start of this Season Giroud had never scored against a top four side in the Premier league. Fast forward to January 2015 and he’s scored against almost every big team he has played against this season. It started in the Charity shield against Man City where the Frenchman scored an absolute screamer. Since then Giroud has managed to score against Everton, Manchester United on his return, Liverpool and City once more, with the latter two crucial in claiming valuable points against our rivals. For me the guy just looks more confident. Perhaps the added competition for places with Sanchez and Wellback in the team have also helped motivate the big guy, whatever the case he just looks sharper. First touch, passes, shots on goal and running with the ball at his feet all look improved. He just looks like a better version of his old self. I have said previously I no longer consider a new striker a priority for Arsenal FC. (This is probably the first time I can say that since we sold Van Persie to United.) Sanchez looks on course for 30 goals this Season, Walcott is back in the side and 'Giroud 2.0' has scored 6 goals in his last 7 starts. As many of you know I used to be one of Girouds biggest critics on here but I'm starting to change my mind. He may never be prolific but with his size, workrate and aerial ability Giroud is a very useful player indeed. Providing they stay fit Sanchez and Walcott will score a bucket load of goals and if Giroud can maintain his recent form I think we are more than capable of getting back into the title race.
Interesting comparison here between Van Persie and Giroud. Shows just how much the Frenchman has improved this term.. http://www.squawka.com/comparison-m...ted/goals_scored/total_shots/shot_accuracy#90
I'm not really sure comparing Giroud with an aging and inconsistent Van Persie nearing the end of his career at the top proves that Giroud is now good enough for us as a first choice striker. Compare him with the best centre forwards around and he still comes off worse: http://www.squawka.com/comparison-m...ted/goals_scored/total_shots/shot_accuracy#90 You can use that comparison site to almost prove whatever you want.
I just came across that comparison. Didn't set it up myself. He still fairs pretty well against that crop.. and then consider he's not even our top goalscorer. Also I wouldn't consider that selection the 'best' centre forwards. Just the ones having a good Season soo far.
I've always felt its a bit unfair to write Giroud off, saying he hasn't performed in big games. Last season barely anyone performed against the big sides and we were generally over ran and hammered out of site within the first half hour! This is an interesting article about how we've been evolving our approach to big games for awhile and slowly getting better, allowing out attacking players more opportunities - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-away-performance-has-been-coming-for-a-while
Yeah, I agree with most of that. I have to say I think we played very well against Utd earlier in the Season (despite the result) and our performance against Dortmund was also very similar to the City game. Less possession but still controlled the game and were dangerous whenever we went forward. I think the criticism was fair because at the end of the day - his record against the TOP sides was shockingly bad but it seems to have changed both in terms of goals and all round performance.
IMO it's just that we're making the best use of the resources available to us - at the start of last season we had lots of people running off and beyond Giroud, or coming into the box late for a lay off - players like Ramsey and Wilshere in particular but also Cazorla and Walcott (when he was fit), it allowed Giroud to link up really well with some cute passing and gave people space. During our poor period when we got trounced we had no movement, and no one moving beyond Giroud, this left him against 2 (usually really good) CBs and exposed all his weaknesses ie, no pace, not great at sharp turns or beating 1 or 2 men at a time. Now we seem to be getting back to a place where we are using our pace and attacking well on the counter, allowing a hard working Giroud to be a point man with Sanchez and Oxo running beyond him while he ties up both CBs.
It is good to have Le Big Unit upfront getting 20 goals a season and providing a focal point and link up to bring others in to play like Saanchez to get maybe another 45 goals, Giroud also works hard at closing down and tracks back and defends well at corners etc. i think at the moment he suits the team better than to have an out and out striker who is selfish but gets 30 goals a season but who does nothing else for the team and isn't there to link up and bring others in to play.
He is doing really well at the moment, he bullied Kompany at times and as mentioned has scored some big goals this season. Has proved many of his doubters wrong, also last season his limitations (pace) was really shown up because as a team we lacked pace. This season with the additions of Alexis,Welbeck and the OX playing more games, it's not really an issue.
Always liked him, even when he was being absolutely slated on here, as he always gave the team something extra in attack, although some of his misses in crucial games were frustrating. His link up play has always been good and now not only does he look like he's improved his finishing, but he has even better players around him to bring into play.
What is going on with our team? We have Giroud, Ramsey, Wilshere and now Bellerin all competing for most fabulous bouffant! and then we have follicly challenged Steve Bould lurking in the background...
Our record in the the three games we were trounced in last season as compared to this: City away: 6-3, this season 0-2 Liverpool away: 5-1, this season 2-2 Chelsea away: 6-0, this season 2-0 Last season: 17 goals conceded, 4 scored. This season: 4 goals conceded, 4 scored. Last season: 0 points from 9, this season 4 points from 9. I don't think it's only Giroud who has improved, we've generally looked a bit more solid this season in the big games although some of our attacking play has been a let down at times.
I definitely agree with this Mihaela, we used to just try and dominate possession and try and pass the big teams to death, which didn't work as we didn't have the right personnel to 1. stretch the opposition with incisive movement, and 2. defend against their explosive counters. So we'd end up getting trounced even if we had more possession. Since the Chelsea game we've been keeping our shape/discipline more in the big games and looking more to use our pace as a weapon - even at the expense of possession. As a result of the whole team playing better, we're seeing Giroud playing better and we are utilizing his strenghs - whereas previously we'd be pretty much static and behind Giroud expecting him to do all the running or beat 2 men on his own, which he's terrible at, so it never worked.
I remember when we beat the Spuds at the lane when Rosicky scored that early screamer, for the rest of the game we let the spuds have the ball and soaked up their pressure. We ended up having very little possession similarly to the City game, but we ended up controlling the match and taking all 3 points.
I remember that game too, but it was nowhere as solid as the Mancity game, the Mancity game was a very good benchmark, we truly looked world class and elite, and to be honest we were more comfortable in the Mancity game than the Spurs game, other than the first 15 minutes of the second half, City didn't do much at all. Speaking of Spurs, I think if we beat them, then we will get the top 4 because if you look at our run of games coming, they're the only real tough tough one in a while.
