Arsenal: Battle Between Giroud and Walcott Is Good News

Olivier Giroud put in an impressive performance against Everton on Saturday in his first start for Arsenal since August. The Frenchman scored and generally troubled the Everton’s side defence throughout but his display merely adds to the dilemma facing manager Arsene Wenger on who to select up front.

Theo Walcott had enjoyed a run in the line up as of late, Giroud was dropped following his idiotic sending off in the defeat at Dinamo Zagreb in their opening Champions League group match. But Giroud’s goal off the bench in Arsenal’s famous victory over Bayern Munich on Tuesday earned him the starting spot against Everton and he duly repaid his manager.

Both strikers offer very different qualities when leading the Arsenal attack. Giroud is a muscular presence who at his best can occupy defenders with his strength and provide efficient link up play for his midfielders. Whilst he is known for his ability in the air he a is capable finisher without being clinical and can score from outside the area too, evidenced by spectacular goals against Manchester City in the Community Shield and in defeat to Manchester United last year at the Emirates.

Walcott has been crying out for a chance to play up front consistently almost since his arrival as a seventeen-year-old. His electric pace means he is a perfect target for Arsenal’s creative midfielder’s passes in behind a defence and often teams are forced to play deeper against him to try and compensate for this. His finishing is much-improved too and while he is not the best focal point for the Arsenal attack to hold up the ball, he can stretch teams on the counter and open up spaces for supporting players which he did effectively against Stoke City this season for example.

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What they do share, however, is that they are confidence players. If either gets into a good run of form, they start playing increasingly better. When the chips are down, Giroud comes across as lazy, petulant, unwilling to challenge in the air but against Everton he was chasing down defenders, dropping deeper to pick up the ball and leading the line well.

Likewise Walcott when he is enduring a barren spell or is feeding off substitute appearances he tends to over-think his play. He is an instinctive player, much more effective when he trusts himself to finish a chance off or play the right ball first time – this only comes with starts and goals.

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The competition between the two may well see Arsenal get the best out of them. Too often Giroud was an automatic choice for the Gunners and grew comfortable in his role, and his performances became sluggish. With Walcott now challenging, he will know he has to produce consistently or he will be replaced. The Frenchman told

Goal.com

after the game that Walcott has earned his run in the side and acknowledged “he brought something different compared to me. We have different profiles and when he is a bit tired, I try to take the baton”.

This concept of passing the baton may well turn out to be an accurate assessment of how the two forwards are managed for the rest of the campaign, though Tuesday’s league cup clash with Sheffield Wednesday will likely be an anomaly as Wenger continues his policy of playing youngsters in the competition.

But it certainly appears to be a two-man race between the strikers with Danny Welbeck injured yet again, some reports suggesting he will be out till march and Joel Campbell not considered a serious option. Due to Wenger’s insistence in going with one up front, it looks unlikely that both will feature in tandem this season which means he will be looking to play one or the other. How he manages this situation and whether he picks the right man for each opponent whilst monitoring each player’s confidence levels will be crucial for Arsenal if they are to challenge for the title this season.

It’s definitely a good headache for Wenger to have.

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