Olivier Giroud Thriving for Arsenal After Brace Sees off Middlesbrough in FA Cup

LONDON — An excellent brace from Olivier Giroud put Middlesbrough to the sword and reaffirmed his status as Arsenal’s foremost centre-forward.

At the close of last summer’s transfer window, things did not look quite so good for Giroud—and not just because he was nursing the fractured leg acquired in a freak accident against Everton. On deadline day, Arsenal had added Danny Welbeck to a stable of attacking talent already including the likes of Alexis Sanchez. Giroud’s first-team place had never faced such a threat. 

Some competition had been a long time coming. During the 2013/14 season, his only real rival for a regular place was rookie Yaya Sanogo. The paucity of options meant Giroud faced accusations of complacency since he effectively had a guaranteed spot. Off-field controversies fuelled the arguments of those who suggested his attitude was not quite what it might be.

Relying on Giroud so heavily led to other problems too. It tired him out, leaving him shorter of pace than usual. What’s more, it enforced a degree of tactical inflexibility. Once Theo Walcott succumbed to a knee ligament injury, Arsenal’s attack looked distressingly leaden-footed. Fans called for reinforcements, and Arsene Wenger responded with some impressive summer signings.

When Welbeck arrived from Manchester United, many anticipated he would seize the central striking role permanently. However, Giroud deserves enormous credit—not just for overcoming a serious injury, but also for seeing off fierce competition. Since coming back in to the side, he has been in outstanding form.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

Giroud now has 10 goals from just 12 starts. His brace against Middlesbrough was typical of his straightforward striking style. Both goals developed from intelligent runs across the near post, which are the key feature of his penalty box approach.

The finishes were excellent, too. The first was a simple side-foot in to the net, while the second was a thumping volley to catch a dozing Middlesborough off guard. That demonstration of technique shows that Giroud is more than just an old-fashioned target man.

Fundamentally, he’s a team-orientated player. Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that his competition complements him well. He's surrounded by the pace of Alexis, Welbeck and Walcott, and his strengths are emphasised. His upper-body power and superb first touch have allowed him to be installed as the pivot around which Arsenal’s speedier strikers operate.

Add in the security he offers at defensive set pieces, and it’s difficult to envisage an Arsenal side without him. Wenger threw the gauntlet at Giroud’s feet this summer, and he has answered the challenge as emphatically as he dispatched the volley that consigned Middlesbrough to defeat.

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.