Time for Arsenal to Revert to Using Olivier Giroud as Their Main Striker

Olivier Giroud did not enjoy a good return to home soil against Paris-Saint Germain in Arsenal's 1-1 draw on Tuesday night.

Back in his native France, he might well have expected to start the game. Instead, he found himself confined to the substitutes' bench, with Alexis Sanchez preferred in an unfamiliar centre-forward role.

When Giroud did eventually make it on to the field, his most notable contribution was to be sent off for two bookable offences. 

Giroud is still waiting for his first start of the season. When Arsenal travel to Hull City this weekend, it is imperative he is restored to the side—without him, Arsene Wenger is struggling to find a functioning attacking formula.

One of the reasons Giroud has not been more involved thus far is, of course, his prolonged participation in Euro 2016. France went all the way to the final, and Giroud played a key role for his country, operating as the pivotal figure around which Antoine Griezmann was able to operate.

Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

It’s a similar function to the one he has served at Arsenal for several years now. Giroud is regularly criticised for his lack of pace, but Wenger has compensated by surrounding him with quicker players. The likes of Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey have seen the benefit of playing with Giroud, feeding off his flick-ons and deft touches.

However, there are limitations to that approach. Starting with Giroud means Arsenal play with a No. 9 who lacks the speed to offer a consistent threat in behind. It hampers their efforts to hit teams on the counter-attack, and it encourages the opposition to sit deep in numbers.

Arsenal regularly get locked in a game of pinball, desperately trying to find a way through a sea of defenders by playing a wall-pass off the outnumbered Giroud.

It’s for that reason that Wenger sought to mix things up last season. In the first half of the campaign, he frequently used Theo Walcott as a centre-forward. Once Danny Welbeck returned from injury in February, he too was often preferred to Giroud.

Wenger’s plan was seemingly to develop a more mobile attacking style that would give Arsenal a more varied threat. Both Walcott and Welbeck offered pace and movement in the channels, giving Mesut Ozil a target for his penetrative through balls.

Crucially, they enabled Arsenal to become more direct—with those speedy strikers in the side, they can transition quickly from defence to attack. Wenger was trying to put an end to Arsenal’s pretty but pedestrian approach play.

The shift in style appeared to continue when Wenger moved to sign Granit Xhaka this summer. One of Xhaka’s most pronounced skills is his ability to play early passes over the top.

Although the Swiss has yet to establish himself as a regular member of the side, it surely won’t be long until he cements a place in the Arsenal midfield. When he does, strikers with pace stand to benefit most from his vision.

Walcott and Welbeck are not in contention for the No. 9 role this season—the former is required on the flank, while the latter is recuperating from another major knee injury. However, Wenger has another couple of alternatives.

First, there’s Lucas Perez, who was signed in the transfer window from Deportivo. After Arsenal’s failed bid for Jamie Vardy, Lucas was acquired to add a similar combination of speed and movement

Christophe Ena/Associated Press/Associated Press

Then there’s Alexis. Although most of his football has been played on the flanks, Wenger has always believed he has potential as a centre-forward. When he signed the Chilean back in 2014, he said, per ESPN: "He can play his whole life as centre forward. I bought him to play as a striker, not only on the flanks."

Every time Alexis has started a game for Arsenal this season it has been through the middle. Wenger clearly believes his technical and physical attributes are suited to a central berth, and he is determined to see through the adaptation period.

There have been significant teething troubles, but the lineup for PSG shows they have not been enough to dissuade Wenger from his course.

However, there are consequences to be suffered when Giroud is taken out of the side. When Alexis plays as the main striker, his inclination is to wander towards the ball. That means dropping out to the flanks or deep into midfield as he seeks to avoid becoming isolated.

His hunger is admirable, but it often leaves Arsenal without a focal point. It’s a natural consequence of his inexperience in the position.

Lucas is more accustomed to playing as a centre-forward, but he is new to English football. On the evidence of his debut against Southampton, it may take him some time to acclimatise to the Premier League.

Until he does, Arsenal are surely better off making more use of Giroud. He has his flaws, but he remains a competent and experienced Premier League striker. Alexis and Lucas need time to grow into the role—Giroud is ready to go.

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

That’s not to say he has to be used in an identical fashion to previous years. Former Gunner Thierry Henry, inspired by France’s tactics during the Euros, has suggested employing Alexis as a second striker to play off Giroud. He could effectively replicate Griezmann’s role in this summer’s tournament.

Henry told the Sun's Mike McGrath:

"

You can see that Giroud becomes a better player when he has people around him.

Look how he played for France with Antoine Griezmann.

He is very good when he can flick and hold up play  — his link-up play is second to none. But he needs players around him making runs behind him.

When I see Sanchez play for Chile, he is up front, free. Not on the left, not on the right. That might be something. If Alexis can be used in and around Giroud, instead of being wide,  both of them will benefit from that.

"

Deploying both Alexis and Giroud through the middle would, of course, necessitate a change of system. Ozil currently plays in the No. 10 spot, and unless Arsenal switched to a narrow midfield diamond it would be impossible to accommodate him alongside two conventional strikers. That would be a radical change for Wenger, who has built his team around his record signing.

Nevertheless, it is worth considering—Ozil has played extensively on the flank for Germany, and pairing Alexis and Giroud could go some way towards cancelling out both players' flaws.

For some time now, Arsenal fans have hoped for a side that evolved beyond Giroud. Now they face the reality of a team without him, they realise how important his contribution can be.

In the long run, Alexis or Lucas may have what it takes to replace him. However, in the short term, it’s time to hand the Frenchman an overdue recall.

       

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout 2016/17. Follow him on Twitter here.