Alexis Sanchez Scores, but Olivier Giroud Turns the Game for Arsenal

EMIRATES STADIUM, LONDON — Alexis Sanchez will inevitably grab the headlines after another crucial goal helped the Gunners past Southampton. However, it would be remiss to hail Sanchez alone. This match swung on the introduction of Olivier Giroud, whose contribution to the game's final stages deserves at least as much praise.

It was something of a surprise that Giroud did not start the match. At West Brom, his intelligent hold-up play had provided a useful fulcrum for Danny Welbeck and Sanchez on the flanks. However, with Arsene Wenger perhaps wary of overusing a player just returning from a long lay-off, Giroud dropped to the bench with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain taking his place in the team.

Without him, Arsenal lacked the fluidity in attack they had displayed at the Hawthorns. What's more, they were coming up against a goalkeeper in inspired form. Fraser Forster had already produced a stunning first-half save to deny a deflected Welbeck header.

Southampton manager Ronald Koeman was quoted by Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail as saying, "We were unlucky with the injuries. That gave Arsenal the motivation to carry on until the last second. Fraser Forster was outstanding, but it was not enough. That’s the risk in football. A lot of players are having hamstring problems."

In the second half, with the game seemingly headed towards a 0-0 draw, the anxious crowd began chanting for Giroud. Instantly, Wenger concurred, turning to Steve Bould and telling him to send for the towering Frenchman.

His impact was immediate. First, a well-struck drive stung Forster's palms. Then, an ingenious flick set up a chance for Welbeck, only for Forster to produce another stupendous save.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

However, the pressure was steadily mounting. With Giroud offering the team a robust focal point, Arsenal suddenly found new angles for attack. As momentum grew, Southampton suffered a killer blow. Toby Alderweireld succumbed to a hamstring injury, but Ronald Koeman had already used all three substitutions. The Saints were down to 10 men. Eventually, the fabulous Forster was beaten.

Giroud played a key part in the goal. His tussle in the box created havoc, and might have been awarded a penalty, before the ball broke for Aaron Ramsey to cross for Sanchez to score.

Despite nabbing the winner, this was probably Sanchez's worst performance in an Arsenal shirt since he was withdrawn at half-time at Goodison Park back in August. He's always an individualist, but on this occasion he seemed particularly determined to make things happen on his own. Nothing was coming off, and he ended up regularly conceding possession. This did not appear destined to be his night.

However, perhaps that's the mark of a great player: Even when he's not at his best, Sanchez still has the class to make the telling contribution.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

That shouldn't be allowed to detract from Giroud's performance. Sanchez's goal might make him the obvious hero, but Giroud's impact ensured that this was a derivation from the "one-man team" narrative that has run through Arsenal's season thus far.

 

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.