Olivier Giroud returned to the Emirates Stadium this week as Lille performed Arsenal within the Champions League.
The Frenchman, who received two FA Cups with the Gunners, is remembered fondly in these elements and is actually popular with Mikel Arteta.
The striker and the supervisor had been as soon as teammates and whereas they had been adversaries for an evening in north London on Tuesday, it was Arteta who had the final snort as they shared a heat embrace on the pitch at full-time.
Giroud solely appeared as a late substitute and obtained heat applause from the house followers.
Nonetheless, did he deserve that type of reception? Giroud’s profession at Arsenal was actually a rollercoaster.
What’s Giroud’s legacy at Arsenal?
Giroud’s footballing story is one thing from an image e-book. Plucked from obscurity in France by Arsenal, the Frenchman joined from Montpellier in 2012 to the tune of simply £12m.
Was this the participant Arsène Wenger wanted to finish the membership’s trophy drought? Effectively, on first look, no.
Giroud endured a tough journey at the beginning of his journey in London. It took the tall centre-forward seven league video games to lastly rating his first objective for the membership and he in the end ended his debut marketing campaign with simply 11 strikes to his title within the Premier League.
However, Giroud had his moments. Ultimately, he did play a key function in ending that lengthy, previous trophy drought for Arsenal. He did not rating within the 2014 FA Cup last, however he was the person to help Aaron Ramsey’s winner in further time.
The French famous person actually had his moments. That scorpion kick objective, which to at the present time he nonetheless intends he meant, is likely one of the most interesting strikes of the Emirates period.
As soon as all was stated and performed, he departed having scored 105 objectives. Solely 15 gamers within the membership’s historical past have scored extra objectives. In that regard, he needs to be counted as a cult hero.
To some he’s, however his legacy was tainted when he joined Chelsea. He was pivotal because the Blues defeated Unai Emery’s facet in Baku to win the Europa League after which on the workforce bus after the sport he stated “thanks Arsenal” as he lifted the trophy.
Consequently, some had been hardly happy to see him again in N5 on Tuesday evening. Some followers had been hardly happy to see a few of their very own beginning XI both.
Why it is time for Giroud 2.0 to depart Arsenal
Say what you want about Giroud however he could be the proper striker within the modern-era for this Arteta workforce.
Take Kai Havertz, as an illustration. He is reasonably like Giroud in his stature and his skill to carry the ball up. His positioning, motion and tactical consciousness is top notch, very similar to the Frenchman in his prime.
But, it isn’t Havertz who most resembles Giroud proper now; it’s Viktor Gyokeres.
Signed from Sporting CP for £63m in the summertime of 2025, a lot was anticipated from the massive Swede. This was the elite centre-forward Arsenal had been craving to take them to the following stage. So that they thought, anyway.
Sadly, in the same strategy to Giroud, he has turn into a marmite determine. Gyokeres was the membership’s main goalscorer final time period with 21 in all competitions.
His efforts needs to be remembered fondly, significantly because the Gunners ended a two-decade wait to lastly win the Premier League.
But, Gyokeres’ performances have been known as into query. He had his critics in 2025/26 however they’re again with a vengeance in 2026/27. He actually does really feel just like the modern-day Giroud.
Within the Wenger period, the Swede’s tempo, energy and ending skill are precisely what Arsenal might have performed with. They performed a beautiful model of soccer that was free-flowing and vigorous.
Mikel Arteta’s facet does play some eye-catching soccer however it does not include huge regularity. It is extra structured, it is extra organised and it may be mind-numbingly affected person. For Gyokeres, that’s no good. He feeds on chaos; he feeds on balls in behind.
So, like Giroud, it might seem he’s enjoying the unsuitable period. Only a few can query the 28-year-old’s goalscoring skill however he merely does not go well with the way in which Arsenal play within the current day.
That a lot was summed up in opposition to Lille on Tuesday evening. The striker had simply 12 touches of the ball and was starved of any type of probability creation.
|
Gyokeres vs Lille |
|
|---|---|
|
Minutes performed |
65 |
|
Touches |
12 |
|
Correct passes |
6/8 (75%) |
|
Photographs |
0 |
|
Offsides |
1 |
|
Key passes |
0 |
|
Dribbles |
0 |
|
Duels received |
1/5 |
|
Carries |
3 |
Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino created three key passes between them. Madueke, particularly, was distinctly poor. He tried 15 crosses however solely considered one of them discovered a teammate.
Is it any shock Gyokeres left the sector simply after the hour mark having did not have a shot?
As irritating as that’s for the participant, it’s turning into a standard prevalence now. When the Sweden worldwide obtained a uncommon begin in opposition to Napoli in the course of the opening week of the Champions League, he didn’t have a shot in that tie both.
So, with Arsenal clearly looking out for a greater striker – they wished Julian Alvarez in the summertime – Gyokeres needs to be banging down the door and asking to depart in January. Regardless of a Premier League trophy and a Champions League last, this has not been a cheerful marriage.
