Olivier Giroud Addresses France Jeers as Didier Deschamps Defends Arsenal Star

Arsenal and France striker Olivier Giroud has accepted criticism of his poor form after he was heckled by his own fans on international duty, but he has bullishly predicted he will overcome this current lull in standards.

The forward started France's friendly game against Serbia in Bordeaux on Monday, a match his side won 2-1. But after missing a plethora of chances, Giroud was booed by the Matmut Atlantique Stadium crowd.

"As a striker, what you got used to on a daily basis, it is to be applauded when you score goals," said the Arsenal man, per Dejan Kalinic of Goal. "I have the mental strength to bounce back. Now I am going to focus on working. I am everything but worried about that. I will bounce back."

His national team manager, Didier Deschamps, leaped to the defence of the Gunners star in the aftermath, per Matt Morlidge of the MailOnline:

"

[Giroud] also helped during the game. He got unlucky on a few chances because the goalkeeper made a great save. He got three clear opportunities.

One was not on target, a header close from the goal frame. Obviously if he had been more efficient the score would have been much higher. In his role he made a lot of effort. I always leave a lot of freedom to the three offensive players so he also had to counterbalance.

Obviously he knows about it. He's the first to be sad about his lack of efficiency. But it happens sometimes. If it's not Olivier, it might be Karim [Benzema]. The performance of the entire team remains of a great level.

"

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

Giroud was jeered by the home supporters as he strode off at half-time and when he was substituted on the hour mark for Karim Benzema. As we can see, courtesy of 101 Great Goals, one of the Arsenal star’s misses was particularly embarrassing, especially given the stunning buildup play by Antoine Griezmann:

The form of the forward has been a concern for Arsenal supporters this season too. Despite scoring an acrobatic volley in a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace in Week 2, Giroud hasn’t been quite as effective at the point of the attack and was withdrawn from the starting XI for the Gunners’ game against Newcastle United last time out.

BEN STANSALL/Getty Images

But the Frenchman, like any striker, thrives off confidence. His goals for Arsenal have often come in bursts, and should he find the net when the domestic grind resumes, it could well be the trigger for a prosperous run.

Arsenal supporters will surely continue to back their man, but as reported here by Matt Spiro of beIN Sports, a considered approach has never really been part of the makeup of the average France fan:

To boo a player in a friendly game is peculiar and achieves nothing positive. Deschamps needs time to experiment with new formulas ahead of next summer’s European Championship, which France will host. And regardless of his sluggish start to the season, Giroud is likely to be a part of the squad chasing glory on home soil.

Romain Perrocheau/Getty Images

It’s important for the manager to consider every possible scenario, even if Benzema is still likely to be the starting centre-forward, per Bleacher Report’s Andy Brassell:

When it comes to Giroud, it shouldn’t be a massive worry he’s missing chances. If the forward wasn’t getting into goalscoring positions, then there would be more cause for concern; at the moment, the 28-year-old is merely lacking the golden touch in front of goal that has been on display since his move to the Emirates Stadium in 2012.

Anyway, as Deschamps notes, there is a lot more to the Frenchman’s game than sticking the ball in the back of the net. For club and country, he’s adept at bringing other attacking players into the game; while that’s a trait that may not be completely appreciated by his compatriots in the stands, it’s a quality those playing alongside him, and his manager, will adore.