GQGiroud changes perspectives on Arsenal striking needs
When Olivier Giroud joined Arsenal many were scratching their heads. This was the potential replacement for Robin Van Persie? Replacing a world class striker with someone who only led scoring in Ligue 1 the previous season? Many were not amused.
Even this summer, after an impressive first season, Giroud was written off as a good sub to have coming off the bench. What Arsenal really needed is someone more dynamic – a Gonzalo Higuain, Wayne Rooney or (gasp) Luis Suarez.
Before we go on – if you have a chance to get a player of that quality you of course go after them (regardless of the baggage). However, given the GQGiroud’s form of late the question has to be asked what kind of striker do we need.
Giroud has come on strong this season showing himself to be a complete package. My first impressions of the man early on were that there was two distinct changes I immediately saw. First, his gait when he ran looked less labored and he was showing himself to be quicker. Last season I always got the impression that he ran awkwardly leaning back in his gait. That no longer seems to be the case. And that may be in part to the second thing I noticed – he looked leaner.
Now Giroud has always been an impressive physical specimen – just ask the ladies. But in my opinion, he still looks strong but now he looks lean and that has helped him in my opinion.
Then there were the other improvements. His technical skill looks to taken a significant leap. His chance conversion rate last season was 12.5%. Already at the early part of this season, he is looking at a conversion rate of 18.5%. He’s always been strong in the air and he is on pace to equal last year’s rate (57% last season and 55% this season). But where I think he is making himself felt is simply being the target man up top.
His ability to bring players into the attack by holding up the ball is uncanny. He is dominating defenders and his play upfront has led to the creation of 15 chances (4 assists and 11 key passes). Only Mesut Özil has created more chances (19). His imposing presence is also having another affect up front and it all happens off the ball.
There are a few things to look for with a striker who moves off the ball. The first is naturally does he present himself as an option for the attack and does he by virtue of his movement create space and chances for others. Giroud has become so good upfront that he often is drawing 2-3 defenders with him when he goes into the box. This creates open space for others with the ball. Cazorla got some benefit of it last season and you are already seeing others reap the rewards this season.
It says a lot that this early in the season that not only is Giroud banging in the goals but he is also setting up the goals. He sits atop the assists table (with Aaron Ramsey) with 4 assists already this season. He is defensively working his tail off and he is creating havoc for back lines.
Giroud also has sleek skill that belies his big frame. His footwork and deft passing are things you’d expect from more fleet footed players like Cazorla, Özil and others. But look at the Dortmund match, where I think Giroud really showed some top quality for the whole time he played. His play to force Hummels clearing off the line was in one word – sublime. The side volley that beat Lloris in the North London Derby doesn’t happen by chance. That is made by someone who is confident and skilled – two things that Giroud is just dripping with.
We asked the question last season, is Giroud the next great Arsenal forward? A lot of comments laughed at us for that. But as Giroud has shown over his career, he continues to improve. He has come on strong in his second season and all this while only getting a rest during the Capital One Cup tie with West Brom.
When others would look leggy, you’d expect Giroud to as well. But he has actually looked stronger – strongest of the team in my opinion over the last few matches. We’ll need that. It’s unlikely Giroud could last all 50+ matches this season. It’s unreasonable to think so. The congested December fixture list will take its toll and come January if we are still in it – we will need all the reinforcements we can muster to make a push for the end of the season.
Of course there is need for another striker. As much as some hope that Nicklas Bendtner can pick up slack, it’s probably not likely. And at the beginning of the season a lot were clamoring for a world class striker to come in. Giroud has now given room for pause on that train of thought. He has forced himself ahead of Karim Benzema on the French National team and he has forced Wenger to rethink his transfer targets for January and possibly the summer (there is still a lot of football to play). It’s why we are being linked with a loan move for Fernando Llorente.
Right now though, GQGiroud is doing everything he can to not only aid Arsenal in their push for titles but he doing everything he can to validate his choice as Robin Van Persie’s replacement.
And he’s not doing so bad with that.
