Arsenal’s underrated diesel engine: Olivier Giroud

I cannot make those literary analogies about footballer’s with French wines to add to the cheesiness of my posts, but if I could, I would surely make one regarding Olivier Giroud. For starters, the English fans of Arsenal were disappointed that the lad with model-like looks was Olivier and not Oliver. And then Giroud sounded too much like Djourou, another player they haven’t really come to love, though he’s come up from within the club’s youth ranks. To put it straight, no one cared about the arrival of Ligue 1′s top scorer, since they were busy moaning about Robin van Persie’s move to their arch-rivals up north. Not the sweetest of welcomes for a player who was expected to lead the revamped line-up of London’s biggest club.

There are logical reasons as to why Olivier Giroud was not considered a worthy successor to the lanky Dutchman. Firstly, he wasn’t a fully capped international and had only emerged on the scene over the past two seasons, in one of the most under-rated leagues in Europe. Then, he was a gamble no one was ready to take, considering Arsenal managed to cleanly nick him from Montpelier’s clasp, at a price which was a shade under 10 million GBP. Lastly, he wasn’t the typical Arsenal-esque centre-forward. Much of Arsene Wenger’s strikers have been known for their pace, skill and technique. In simple terms, he was a French version of Andy Carroll. And with the former Toon striker not managing to hold down his place in the first XI at Liverpool, there was much doubt cast over Giroud’s game.

Compared to Giroud, Lukas Podolski received much more warmth from the Arsenal faithful, considering he is a regular in the German national team and has been effective across the front-line for both club and country. Santi Cazorla was the guy being brought in to fill the void left by Cesc Fabregas. Had Van Persie stayed a little longer, Cazorla, Theo Walcott and RvP could have wreaked havoc across the defenses in England’s top flight.

The bullet, the handy-man and happy-feet.

Giroud is heavily criticized for his lack of pace, which incidentally comes handy in the EPL, even though the English game is noted for its physical nature. Arsene Wenger’s teams have been known for their flowing football, built around precise, intricate passing and clinical finishing. Hence a major shadow of doubt was cast, as to how Olivier Giroud would fit into the team. But like they say in north London, Arsene knows.

AW sees it all and Giroud, though still criticized by many, is probably Arsenal’s best summer buy this season. Arsenal have a number of players with pace. Podolski, for one, can bomb down the left flank and move into the center just as easily. The German is known for his powerful left-foot and bullet-like free kicks. Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the former Southamton speed-merchants, have mastered their trade on the right and in the hole as well. The diminutive Cazorla can dictate play from the hole, spreading the ball around for the wingers to latch on to, combined with the occasional long-range drive. Arteta and Wilshere share defensive duties, while alternately surging forward to support the front-line in attack. Defense-up, the Arsenal team is full of the necessary pace and tempo to create beautiful passing football.

But this beauty, as I’d put it, ends in the final third. A player like Robin van Persie comes once in a while for reasons already known. Sweet left-foot, great aerial ability, intelligent positioning and bleh-bleh. Compared to the Dutchman, Giroud is rather trite. But he does have a variety of those common skills on offer that balance out the rarities at Arsenal.

Giroud at 6’4? is a human tower who can easily manage aerial duels. Proof? The Chambéry lad has 159 aerial duels completed to his name already, compared to a puny 20 by Theo Walcott, even though the winger is Arsenal’s top scorer this season. Most of Giroud’s fourteen goals this season have come from headers. A quality the team has lacked since the times of the Invincibles.

What he lacks in pace, he makes up for it with brilliant positioning. Giroud gets into the brilliant-est of places to provide that intricate assist or the pass before the assist to unlock defenses. When Arteta, Wilshere and Cazorla with all their nimble movement cannot rip open a resolute a back-line, they pass it to Giroud, who either holds up the balls for Walcott or Podolski, or simply smashes it into the back of the net.

More credit is due to Olivier Giroud for being involved in defense as well. The lad has moved back intelligently when needed and cleared balls from the edge of the net on a number of occasions, when the likes of Szczesny and Mannone have fumbled. Along with defensive duties, the Frenchman has also notched up a healthy number of assists, 10 to be precise.

With time, Giroud has little to lose in terms of pace and skill. The gutsy lad can only mature into a more composite striker and, like Didier Drogba, could blossom into one of the most feared strikers in England. It was only at 34 that Drogba managed to smash in the goal that won Chelsea the European Cup.

Giroud’s physical prowess and hold-up play is what puts him apart from Arsenal’s other center forwards.

At 26, time is on his side. With Walcott’s contract issue resolved, the two could end up being England’s deadliest strike partnership. Giroud’s game has been compared to that of Arsenal legend Alan Smith by Arsene Wenger. While league and European glory may seem farcical, domestic cup honours are something Arsenal could compete for, as they look to end their trophy drought and finally bring some silverware to their new home. One can only hope that the diesel-engine that is Olivier Giroud, rumbles into life on time to save Arsenal’s faltering season.