Why Arsenal's Olivier Giroud Now Deserves to Be Lauded for His Quality

For years now, Arsenal fans have been clamouring for Arsene Wenger to sign a world-class striker. It’s a familiar refrain among the Emirates Stadium faithful, who have been spoilt by watching the likes of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp in action.

For most of that time, Olivier Giroud has been Arsenal’s first-choice centre-forward. Frustration at a lack of elite alternatives has led to him being the brunt of some criticism. However, it’s time for a re-evaluation: Giroud is an excellent performer who is integral to Arsenal’s style.

It’s difficult to understand why the 29-year-old’s skills have not been more appreciated to date. Perhaps it’s because he’s not the most glamorous of players. Those who are universally lauded are capable of more explosive moments of brilliance.

For all his many gifts, Giroud is not blessed with speed. His one-paced style is arguably less eye-catching than that of some of his contemporaries.

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Wenger certainly seems to believe that Giroud’s style is partially what has led to him being taken for granted. Speaking to Paul Doyle of the Guardian, he said:

"

If you look at the number of goals he has scored you have to give him credit. And he is not only a goalscorer – he works a lot for the team. He is among the best strikers in Europe.

I believe because he is not the electric type of player and he makes less spectacular actions, he gets less credit. The kind of header he scored for the first goal [against Olympiakos earlier this season], you do not get much credit for that – but he was there, he headed the ball and it’s an important goal.

You can never give up the style of player he is. If you go on the counterattack, of course, he isn’t the kind of player you want. That’s why when we played against Bayern [in October] I chose Walcott because you know you will be more in your half and have to go out quickly. When you dominate games and need a presence in the box, there is no better player than Olivier.

"

Wenger is right. There is something "old school" about Giroud’s approach. When Wenger initially moved to sign him from Montpellier, it was assumed by many that he would be the long-awaited "Plan B" for Arsenal. His performances as a target man did not seem a natural fit for Arsenal’s free-flowing strategy.

Giroud arrived at the same time as Lukas Podolski, and at first it seemed like the German would be a more obvious replacement for the departing Robin van Persie as Arsenal’s lone striker.

However, it’s worth remembering that Wenger is the same manager who deployed the fearsome Mark Hateley as his centre-forward at Monaco. The veteran French coach is not adverse to using a more direct game, and Giroud quickly became a regular "Plan A."

Of course, that doesn’t make him the right player for every occasion. As Wenger mentioned in his interview with Doyle, Giroud does not suit a counter-attacking style. Earlier this season, that led to him being dropped from the team in favour of Walcott.

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Perhaps some onlookers might have thought that would prove to be the end of Giroud’s time as de facto first choice. They could not be more wrong—when Walcott succumbed to injury, the Frenchman bounced back in style.

His manager’s faith was key in his renaissance. Speaking to French TV show Telefoot (h/t ESPN's Mark Rodden), Giroud said of Wenger: "He came to see me and he said, 'Listen, I didn't sign a striker.' It was a way of saying to me—even if it put a bit of pressure on me—that 'I have full confidence in you.' Afterwards, I continued to work hard at training and above all I was always decisive when I came on."

Giroud has shown real resilience to go alongside his technical attributes. It was much the same in 2014/15, when Danny Welbeck’s arrival threatened his status as Wenger’s preferred central striker. Giroud was forced to watch from the sidelines as Welbeck staked his claim for a regular place, but he fought back impressively to reclaim his spot. Within weeks of returning from injury, he had re-established himself in the side. 

It’s easy to see why Wenger keeps going back to him. Giroud is an increasingly rare breed in the modern game: a centre-forward with both the strength and skill to provide a muscular focal point for his team. His aerial ability makes him effective in both penalty boxes and a constant outlet for Arsenal’s defenders and goalkeepers.

Walcott may offer more pace on the break, but he cannot compete in the air—the Englishman has won just 22 per cent of his headed duels this season, while Giroud has triumphed in 52 per cent of his contests.

His numbers across the board back up his improvement. Giroud’s Premier League record this season reads 12 goals in 26 appearances, but it’s worth pointing out that only 20 of those were starts. Only six players in the division have plundered more goals this season.

Although he has been criticised for not being clinical, a shooting accuracy of 54 per cent is commendable. It’s higher than that of the more-often praised Alexis Sanchez, who hits the target on only 52 per cent of occasions. Perhaps if Giroud’s price tag was higher he’d get more praise—he’s been more accurate this season than the pricey-but-prickly Diego Costa (50 per cent).

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However, he is far more than just a goalscorer. Giroud also has four Premier League assists this season—some of them quite exquisite. His size leads to him being characterised as nothing more than a burly battering ram, but in reality, he is capable of some of the most impudent and delicate flicks in the entire Arsenal squad.

Giroud allows others around him to flourish. Arsenal’s quicker players buzz off him, looking for knockdowns and little touches to feed off. His relationships with the likes of Aaron Ramsey and, perhaps ironically, his rival Walcott are particularly effective. Giroud seems to possess remarkable spatial and strategic awareness. He provides a centrifugal point around which Arsenal’s other attackers can orbit.

Wenger is clearly an astute judge of a forward. In his time, he has coached the likes of George Weah, Henry and Van Persie. He continues to back Giroud, and with good reason. Perhaps it’s time that pundits and fans got on board, too.

Arsenal’s "old-fashioned" forward is not going to change in a hurry—and that’s probably a good thing.

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James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.