Everton’s loss was Arsenal’s gain as Olivier Giroud has so much quality, says Frank Lampard
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One of the best things to happen to Arsenal during the summer transfer window was Olivier Giroud staying at the club.
Giroud came close to joining Everton, something which has made the headlines again due to Ronald Koeman getting the sack at Goodison Park and blaming missing out on the France international as a big reason why things didn’t work out this season.
While I’m not sure if it was the be all and end all for Koeman’s demise, it’s already proved great business for Arsenal to have kept him. Giroud is their Plan B, he can even still be their Plan A on occasion. This is not meant to sound disrespectful. I like Giroud, he has a lot of quality.
Just look at the goal he scored in the last round of the Europa League against Red Star Belgrade, who they face again at Emirates Stadium on Thursday.
In Pictures | Red Star Belgrade vs Arsenal | 19/10/2017
Importantly, he gives them a different option to the other attacking players they’ve got. It is a great asset to have in your squad.
He can be a presence, hold the ball up and bring others into play, he can help Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and so on.
Some people could criticise him for staying and deciding not to be the main man elsewhere but I don’t see it that way.
He knows what he gives the club, I think he feels the club, too. He plays with passion.
I think Arsenal fans appreciate what he does and his goals record is better than what you might expect - there are a lot of impact goals, too.
Arsenal were always going to cruise through their Europa League group but Giroud, who has found the net twice in three appearances this season, is helping them do it.
I expect them to beat Red Star again but Arsene Wenger’s side can only be truly judged on what they do against Manchester City at the weekend.
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