Giroux - the contested scorer
Giroux - the contested scorer
The problem with praise is that they can cause extra stress and tension problem that can cause a player to close in the shell. Especially on a day like that of "Villa Park" on Sunday afternoon. Cold and wet, soaked and a little gloomy. English winter at the winter version.
That is not very pleasant, as one can only wonder how Olivier Giroud assessed the situation when you arrived 48 hours after Arsene Wenger declared it "one of the best strikers in Europe." Bold statement that surprised many and what sort of central striker put Arsenal into the limelight. Where the Frenchman is not always thrived, where tension is exerted too. But this could not happen anything like that, not after what his manager. In the darkness Giroux just had to shine.
In fact he exactly did, scoring a vital hat-trick in the Champions League against Olympiakos last Wednesday, which in turn led to Wenger praises to his French compatriot. While presenting Giroux here was not so convincing in comparison with that in Athens, he still proved second to none, with a significant contribution crowned with his 50th goal in the Premier League for Arsenal since he came 3 years ago.
29-year-old became only the seventh player in club history to reach that limit, and the third fastest behind Thierry Henry and Ian Wright. While Giroux hardly ever reach their legendary status at Arsenal, his achievement still say that with regard to performance, it is definitely part of such a high-profile company.
His 50th goal came early - a penalty in the eighth minute after duff entry of Alan Hutton against Theo Walcott after referee Kevin Frendo initially did not consider this for a foul. He changed his mind and gave a chance to Giroud gave Arsenal forward - shot with his left foot sent the ball into the net, but goalkeeper Brad Guzan Aston Villa outstretched arm in the opposite corner.
It was the 11th goal of Giroux in his last 13 games, and his 27th in the current calendar year. Therefore, quite understandably Wenger pointed out that the player has reached the "top of their game" and then bombarded him with more praise. "He is controversial, but eventually the numbers make people realize that he is a good footballer - said the Arsenal manager. - I think he has made improvement in technique, its combining game became better when we get the opportunity to focus on long balls, he provides us with an interesting option. "
Giroux is certainly competent enough in this by continually soars into the air to win as many high balls. And although it was sometimes overplayed in clashes with Joleon Lescol, his presence certainly troubled defender "Aston Villa". Other players on the home team were pressured by Giroux, when he tried to win back the ball for his team as in the 17th minute when forced Okorsh to hurried to feed her or in the 58th minute when prompted Ydrissa Gay to lost. Furthermore, it showed the willingness of Giroux to return to deep backward to detect the start of another attack, focusing to his quick pass to Mesut Özil near the middle of the pitch that led to celebrating the second goal for Arsenal Aaron Ramsey after an admirable collective counter.
It would be foolish to exalt game against rival Giroux, who is now 15 games without a win and that only once in their last 11 games in all competitions managed to keep dry network. At "Villa Park" does not see anything that would Giroux ordered to players from the class of Sergio Aguero, Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema as Wenger did last week when he praised as one of the elite strikers in Europe. Virtually every Arsenal fan would immediately replace Giroud for each of the first two listed above. And possibly the third, at least before the scandal with sex blackmail.
Furthermore, it should not be forgotten how Giroux knows how to infuriate the audience, as most vividly saw in the defeat of Arsenal from Monaco to "Emirates" in February when he failed to realize several clear chances, which make home audience welcomed his replacement, and Barney loose describe it as a striker, "seems to have gone out to play with a pair of boxing gloves, tied to his feet."
Yes, there are them and these matches but also others, such as that of "Villa Park" and at that fateful victory against Olympiakos, where Giroud showed his value to Arsenal as a classic center forward. One of the few left in the highest echelons of European football and that of his coming in 2012 from Montpellier doing something so important for one goal - to score goals.
And while he was celebrating with the rest of his teammates before visiting supporters in a corner of the grandstand "Doug Ellis" - the joy of victory, fired Arsenal to the top of the table - it was not hard to feel satisfaction because Giroux. Not the best, probably not even among the best. Still very good in their own way.
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