Theo Jensen
Despite what has been (mostly) a good run of form for Arsenal this season, there seems to be almost a consensus that the team position most in need of strengthening is the centre-forward role, one currently plied by Oliver Giroud. I want to look at whether he is or has the potential to be our main striker, or if, as many fans hope to see, we would be better off buying another marquee signing of the calibre of Mesut Ozil come January.
Case For Giroud
In his first season Giroud needed time to adapt to the pace and style of English football after his successful spell at Montpellier. In total though, of 43 games played he still managed 17 goals and 10 assists, which is a decent return for a player still bedding in to a new side. This season, having completed this transition, in 11 games he has managed a relatively better return of five goals and four assists.
Another indication of his progress is a marked improvement in chance conversion. Having struggled with his finishing last season - converting just 29% of his chances, so far this campaign that has been upped significantly to 42%.
Giroud is also becoming excellent at holding up the ball and bringing others into play. This allows the midfielders opportunities to move higher up the pitch, which must be a factor in Ramsey’s recent exceptional form. It’s also a key reason for his assist record as a striker being matched by only Aguero and Rooney this year.
Case Against Giroud
None of the arguments presented in defence of Giroud are particularly contentious. The truly problematic factors are his weaknesses, which arguably outweigh those valid strengths. What seems to hold him back most is a lack of acceleration, and ultimately a slowness both mentally, but more so physically. This has been mitigated more as time wears on with his increased understanding with fellow players, and more unorthodox (but effective) movement off the ball.
Indeed, the majority of his goals seem to come now from counter attacks, where he can be sure of the time and space to execute better finishes. And if there’s one major deficiency in his play it has to be his dependence on crosses. I have counted him only scoring five goals for us that weren’t from crosses: a near-post smash against a demoralised Newcastle in that 7-3 win, a penalty against Marseille, a chip against Coventry City and a brace against Brighton. All teams probably about equivalent to the mass of Ligue 1 clubs Giroud faced playing for Montpellier, giving significantly more time and space to attacking players. Interestingly, his goals from crosses actually represented the minority of chances taken in a Montpellier shirt.
In terms of taking those crosses however, usually with a near-post run; there aren’t many players better at it in the game right now. But for Arsenal to really challenge for titles, they need a more dynamic striker, as Giroud ultimately remains too one-dimensional as a goalscorer.
Indeed, I’d argue that his role as a striker is not actually what suits him best. When you think about some of his best moments in terms of technical ability, it’s not the role of a lone striker that plays to his strengths. Take for example the superb assist to Podolski at home to Montpellier - he actually drifted in between the defence and midfield, slotting into the position of what would actually be a second striker.
Take as well our last goal, scored against Dortmund. It was his headed assist to Ramsey in what ended up with another player (Ramsey in this case) ahead of him, that came off when nothing else would. And as we saw against United on Sunday, he can struggle to play ‘through’ the lines of defences, being somewhat dependent on midfield runners ahead of him.
Conclusion
Really then it’s Giroud’s ability to provide assists, bring in other players to score goals and overall team-player-attitude that mark him out, rather than his ability as a lone striker in the mould of a Lewandowski or Van Persie.
Although the club lacks the wingers and has too great a dearth of central midfielders to play a 4-4-2 system, it might not be a bad idea to play 3-5-2 against weaker teams, with Giroud supporting either Podolski’s clinical finishing or Walcott’s deadly pace on the counter attack (which is far more devastating coming from a central position.)
Ideally however, the club will buy a truly world class striker who can make something out of nothing, help keep the tempo of the play fast and contribute with many goals. If only Bendtner’s ability matched his psychology…
