Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez Show Their Varying Skills Against Sunderland

Olivier Giroud has shown previously that he can be highly effective as an impact substitute. However, he has never had an impact from the bench quite so dramatic as the one he managed in Arsenal’s victory at the Stadium of Light. With the Gunners being held 1-1 by Sunderland, Giroud came onto the field and scored with his first two touches. 

It was a stunning reminder of Giroud’s ability. Although the Frenchman made his return to first-team action in midweek against Reading, this was his first Premier League appearance since the match against Chelsea more than a month ago.

It did not take him long to make his presence felt. The first time the ball fell to him was with a perfectly executed cut-back from Kieran Gibbs. Giroud showed real dexterity to sort out his feet and guide a side-footed volley into the far corner to put Arsenal ahead.

Shortly afterwards, he had his second. This time, a Mesut Ozil corner dropped enticingly at the near post. It was a good delivery, but it left the Frenchman with an enormous amount to do. However, he produced a brilliant header to send the ball looping over Jordan Pickford and into the net.  

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Arsene Wenger was understandably impressed by the French forward. The Gunners boss told Arsenal.com: 

"

Olivier is a guy who is mentally absolutely fantastic. He’s strong and every time he’s questioned, he gives you the right answer on the pitch. I admire that in him. He’s a guy who has gone through some different questions. Even before the European Championship in France, he was questioned by the crowd and in the end everybody was on his side.

"

His contribution swung the match in Arsenal’s favour and ensured they picked up a valuable three points that took them, briefly, to the summit of the Premier League. This was exactly what Arsenal needed in their last league outing against Middlesbrough, when they found themselves unable to break down Aitor Karanka's stubborn side. Giroud offers Arsenal something different—his aerial ability and hold-up play is unparalleled in the Gunners squad.

After his match-winning contribution, there will be calls to restore Giroud to Arsenal’s starting XI. However, the man keeping him on the bench isn’t doing too badly either. Alexis Sanchez also scored twice against Sunderland, illustrating that he's not ready to give up his place any time soon.

In the game’s aftermath, Wenger was asked if he considered the decision a selection headache. He dismissed the idea, telling Arsenal.com:

"

When they score goals, you have no headache. We play every three days and it’s simple - nobody can play all the games and it’s down to me to find the right balance in every single game between attacking and defending, even if we are more of an attacking team. Sometimes I can play them together, sometimes separately, but we play so many games that everybody should get the number of games he wants.

[Alexis] is doing extremely well and I believe that he enjoys it. But we can as well play 4-4-2 with two through the middle as well, because Mesut can play in behind or on the flank. I will see. Let’s not create problems that we don’t have at the moment. 

"

The manager is right to speak in such measured terms. There is no great cause for concern at Arsenal—against Sunderland, both "Plan A" and "Plan B" worked a treat.

Alexis continues to justify his status as Arsenal’s first-choice centre-forward with his brilliant all-round displays. It was he who opened the scoring against Sunderland, darting across his man to meet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s whipped cross with a brilliant header. 

Stu Forster/Getty Images

It was a header Giroud would have been proud of. The fact the Chilean was able to produce it illustrates the sheer range of threat he provides. He is dangerous in the air and with the ball at his feet. That trademark quick footwork was in evidence for his second goal, as he danced past a man before stabbing home from close range. The brace took his tally for the season to eight. Given that we’re not yet out of October, it’s an impressive return. 

The availability of Giroud as an alternative, however, is a huge boost. Arsenal have lost Lucas Perez for a number of weeks to an ankle injury, but in truth, Giroud is more important in terms of providing Wenger with different options.

Lucas is a similar style of striker to Alexis, preferring to drop deep and wide and test opponents with his speed and skill. Giroud allows the Gunners to employ a different strategic approach, offering a fixed focal point for the attack and increasing their threat on set pieces.

This was a game in which the sheer depth of quality of the Arsenal squad became evident—and not just thanks to Giroud. Gibbs and Oxlade-Chamberlain also came into the side and excelled. Gibbs in particular will have given Wenger cause for consideration over who should start at left-back once Nacho Monreal returns from injury.

If Arsenal are to sustain their challenge for Premier League honours, the size of their squad will be crucial. Speaking to Matthew Smith of the Daily Mail after the match, Giroud was clearly satisified with his own day’s work but keen to downplay the club’s chances of finishing top: 

"

At the end we made it look easy but it was totally the reverse. We started well, they came back well and we didn't put them away.

We were exposed in the second half so it was nice to score the second. It was nice to finish the job.

[...]

We have played a quarter of the league, a little more, but it's still the beginning. I'm not the man to speak too much but we enjoy this position.

We want to win it but there is a long time to go, even though we are in a good moment.

"

Giroud is right to dampen expectations in north London—Arsenal have shown in the past that they can struggle when the pressure mounts. 

Nevertheless, it’s difficult to escape the feeling that something promising is happening at Arsenal right now. In restructuring their attack around Alexis, they have found a new way to play that generally makes them much more generous. However, Giroud has shown that sometimes there is a value in fielding a more conventional centre-forward. Arsenal are better equipped than ever before to cope with a variety of situations.

Their quality is not in question. If they want to challenge seriously for the title, they must maintain their consistency.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout 2016/17. Follow him on Twitter here.