Arsenal: Why Olivier Giroud Must Be Signed This Summer

These days, there's always a week that signals the implosion of an Arsenal season.

Whether it was the horrid Novembers of seasons past or the Carling Cup final disaster just 12 months ago, the wheels tend to fall off at some point. It's become a foregone conclusion. And when they do, they go flying.

In 2011-12, Arsenal have seen any chance of silverware go missing in the span of a terrible week in the middle of February. 

After slumping miserably in the Champions League (4-0 defeat to AC Milan) and crashing out of the FA Cup (2-0 to Sunderland), the cut/print has been applied to any realistic chance of silverware for yet another season in what is becoming a thoroughly unbecoming script for a side that once ruled England.

Of course, there were glimpses of how good this side could be—after all, Arsenal did put up five goals on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the late October win—but for whatever reason (perhaps shown most glaringly against Milan and Sunderland), there appears to be something important missing from this side.

We've seen glimpses of brilliance—Arsenal came roaring back in the second half Manchester United just one month ago before falling 1-2 at the Emirates, and they enjoyed memorable fight-backs against Aston Villa and Sunderland in recent weeks.

But it's as if the mettle is there for some weeks, and others, not. That's simply not acceptable, and it points to a hole in the chemical make-up of this team.

Just what that deficiency is remains up for debate, but the most noticeable problem is a lack of proven world-class talent within the side.

That was on full display against Milan last Wednesday. In what was former Invincible Thierry Henry's last game in his six-week loan deal, the 34-year-old Frenchman looked like one of the only Arsenal players capable of handling the gravity of the occasion.

Perhaps it was no coincidence that it was Henry who scored that winner against Sunderland just eight days ago. He knows what it takes to win at the highest level—he's won every major trophy, after all—but it isn't enough to have a six-week infusion of desire.

It needs to spread within the whole side. And given the most recent results, it hasn't.

There are burgeoning talents in this Arsenal team, of course, who might one day merit mentioning among the world's best. But the Oxlade-Chamberlains, the Coquelins, etc. are a few seasons away from that stage.

And for Arsenal fans ready to hit the next person who says, "Wait 'till next year,"—six years without a trophy will do that to you—time is running out.

The one genuine superstar (Robin van Persie) finds himself within a host of lesser talents. That mixture has no chance at becoming homogeneous. It leads instead to a club that sits in fourth place, 17 points off first-place Manchester City.

Could you blame Van Persie for leaving this summer?

Whether Arsene Wenger sees another season at the helm is a debate for another time. What is obvious is that, despite his extensive dealings in the summer transfer window, not enough has been done to improve this side.

It shows worth in stages, but eventually peters out. Thus, something must be done to improve the consistency. Enter proven, top-quality players.

One of those is Olivier Giroud.

The 25-year-old striker has seen his stock skyrocket over the past year, where his impeccable form for Ligue 1 side Montpellier has made him a regular within the French national side and has led to his being linked to a number of major clubs this summer.

Montpellier president Louis Nicollin has apparently resigned himself to losing his star man this summer. Where Giroud ends up is a topic of heavy debate, but Arsenal could be a good fit.

And with Arsenal predicted to splash the cash this summer in order to allay some of the most vitriolic criticism that threatens to engulf the club, there is every chance that they could rise to meet what is certain to be a considerable transfer fee for the former Tours hitman.

Giroud's certainly looking like he's worth the money. His 16 goals so far in 2011-12 lead Ligue 1, and he has a penchant for showing up in the biggest games.

But perhaps it's his six assists that are the more telling statistic. That ability to link up play and get his teammates in goal-scoring situations would be a boon for Arsenal.

Two of those 16 strikes came against Lille and Lyon, respectively—two teams among the French league's best, who both have ambitions for Champions League football.

And then there was Sunday's Ligue 1 title tilt between Montpellier and Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes. With scouts from Bayern Munich and Napoli in attendance, along with Les Bleus No. 2 Alain Boghossian, Giroud was excellent in what ended up as a 2-2 draw.

His control was razor-tight, and his distribution impeccable. It was an inch-perfect Giroud cross that assisted the second Montpellier goal.

He has the physique and technical ability to succeed amongst the rigorous demands of Premier League football, and a signing of his quality would be exactly the right message to send to current Arsenal captain Van Persie about the club's intentions—which should not see finishing in fourth place as the equivalent of a trophy.

Could a pairing of Giroud and Van Persie work? Potentially.

Giroud operates as the lone striker in Montpellier's 4-2-3-1 system, but he has the chops to link up play, and could be an asset as a compliment to Van Persie.

In a season when the Dutch No. 10 has often been starved of adequate service in the final third, having another forward to draw defenders away could do him some good.

In a season (in fact, for the past few seasons now) where Arsenal attacks have looked short of ingenuity and dangerous intent in the goal-mouth area, Giroud's determination and grit would be a welcome addition.

The majority of the build-up often tends to take place around the periphery of the penalty area, as passes flit side-to side, whereupon a midfielder usually takes it upon himself to attempt to prise the defense open with a spontaneous deft pass.

Sometimes it comes off; most times, it doesn't. And any Arsenal fan has become accustomed to seeing crosses whipped in on goal, only to have no one arriving to latch onto them.

Giroud would remedy that. The man is fearless in front of goal—any regular watcher of Ligue 1 matches is by now accustomed to seeing him go crashing into challenges in attempts to get his foot onto 50-50 balls in the goal-mouth area.

That poaching instinct, coupled with his often-sublime technique and impressive ingenuity, would make him fit in seamlessly within a side that prizes (or once did, anyhow) those traits.

And given his late burst onto the scene of stardom—two seasons ago, he was plying his trade in Ligue 2—he is a man who knows what it is to ply his trade in the lower recesses of football. This isn't a player who's had his career handed to him on a silver platter.

That sense of hunger, of knowing what it's like to show up and contribute in second-tier matches, could serve as a refreshing reminder for some of the Arsenal young players, who have often been accused of lacking a certain killer instinct.

Giroud could remedy that. Here's hoping Wenger allows him the chance.