Arsenal: Olivier Giroud Conundrum Easy Enough To Solve
Arsenal actually made it work with Alexis at striker and now we are actually at a crossroads where Olivier Giroud provides a selection conundrum.
I have been very critical of Arsenal‘s usage of Alexis Sanchez up front, as have most other supporters. Given how quickly I was to bash the tactic, I will not be as equally quick to announce it a success. It still has a higher fail rate than success rate, after all.
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That being said, it did work most recently and we have to wonder now what this means for Olivier Giroud. Speaking of things I heavily advocate for, the inclusion of Giroud to open up space has been priority No. 1. So where to do we go from here?
Wenger isn’t really one to alternate tactics or to change things up when he seems to have found a winning formula, so the likelihood of just tossing Giroud back into the fray are slim to none.
Even assuming that is the plan, who plays alongside? Alexis would be forced back out wide and then what? Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi are both proving that they deserve to be starting. Iwobi leads the team in assists and Walcott is, to my complete and utter surprise, finding that 2011-2014 form that I thought would be impossible to reclaim.
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If Giroud were to be given the starting No. 9 role again, I unfortunately think that it would be Iwobi to give way, albeit unjustly. As mentioned, Walcott has indeed been catching on at long last, but it’s been Iwobi that has earned the role and Walcott who has been holding it thanks to Wenger’s undying faith.
Plus, to start Iwobi, Wenger would have to move Alexis over to the right side which, while it worked last year, may be one too many changes (unnecessary changes, you could say) when the alternative plan is to have zero changes and let Giroud be an impact sub.
All things considered, I think Giroud’s inconvenient toe injury has removed him from being the first choice striker. Wenger has been very passionate about getting Alexis Sanchez to work as a striker and now that it finally has, he isn’t going to deviate from it until it hugely doesn’t work.
What do you think Gooners? I want your input. When Giroud is healthy, does Wenger revert to the usual starting XI with Giroud up front or do we stick with Alexis? And forget what Wenger will do, what do you think should happen?
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