Sorry Giroud, you’re wrong: Why Arsenal desperately need another striker

The January transfer window is just hours away from blowing open. If the rumours are to be believed, Arsenal are on the look out for a new striker.

The fans may be clamouring for a new forward, but there’s one man at Arsenal who doesn’t believe Arsenal need another striker: Olivier Giroud.

The Express reports that Giroud told Canal+:

“If the coach wants me to rest, he can do it without buying a new striker.

Lukas Podolski is having a good come-back. Theo Walcott can play as a striker. We have the quality and the quantity.

I would rather not see a new striker come in.”

Giroud has certainly changed his tune. Back in September, he told The Mirror that he would have been happy for Luis Suarez to join Arsenal in the summer.

Perhaps the difference in attitude has been provoked by the disparity in Giroud’s form. When he spoke about Suarez, Giroud had just enjoyed an explosive start to the season. His confidence was on a high.

However, he has recently endured a barren run in front of goal. His header against Newcastle was his first goal in eight games. His shooting accuracy has dropped to just 42 percent.

Olivier Giroud Shot Map

Even the out-of-favour Nicklas Bendtner can boast a significant superior shooting accuracy of 67 percent.

With Giroud’s self-esteem waning, the prospect of sharing striking duties with another talented player is no longer exciting. It has become a threat.

Giroud’s comments are self-serving.

He cites the availability of Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott, but both players excel on the wing rather than through the middle.

Arsenal need another striker to ensure they mitigate against the risk of the Frenchman picking up an injury between now and the end of the season. Perhaps some new competition could even spark an upturn in Giroud’s own form.

Giroud is a popular figure among the Arsenal fans. However, Arsene Wenger must do what’s right for Arsenal, not Olivier Giroud. That means buying a striker.