Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud isn’t having the best season so far. Having lost the Euro 2016 final with France, Giroud was given an extended break by manager Arsene Wenger, and as the team managed fine without their most recognised striker, Giroud saw his chances limited.
Giroud has granted a lengthy interview to L’Equipe, and whilst most of his chat with the French newspaper is about the French national team, his woes at Arsenal were of course covered.
Wenger had to insist Giroud take extended time off following Euro 2016, with the striker keen to get back to work: “The coach has given me a month of complete holiday, as with Lolo (Laurent Koscielny). They have the need to offer a real break to the players who went far in the competition in the years of the Euros or World Cup.
“I had wanted to play again quickly, but he really insisted that I take my time telling me that some players returned to their best level in November.”
L’Equipe put it to Giroud that Arsenal’s match with PSG really illustrated his start to the season, and he didn’t disagree: “I thought I would start because the coach had put me on the bench against Southampton, three days before. But no.
“It is in that moment, on the morning of the match in Paris, that I had a discussion with him. He said that I was close to returning. Frankly, I was hurt, disappointed. This match was finally terrible because I hurt my foot after two minutes of a start, and I couldn’t get in my stride. And I am then sent off. The following week, against Chelsea, I take my first ball and the pain returns immediately. A month and a half of absence on arrival…”
Giroud has often spoken to the French media about his woes, previously being upset that pundits, fans, and perhaps manager Arsene Wenger, didn’t see him as a top striker. There were continual urges for Arsenal to buy a first choice centre forward, and Giroud specifically commented on Jackson Martinez rumours.
Martinez is now in China, which may be a relief, but Giroud is still having problems, agreeing with L’Equipe that it’s potentially his worst start to an Arsenal season: “Yes, that is possible. When I look from the stands at Arsenal, a team that plays well and made a very good start to the championship, it seems my train leaves without me and I must not get too far behind.”
Not playing regularly for Arsenal could certainly harm Giroud’s prospects with the French national, given the competition for places at national level. That’s something which is certainly playing on Giroud’s mind: “If my game time continues to stagnate, it will affect my future selection. I cannot play one game in five. After, we must not make the audit (judge too soon) in early November. And my future, I see it at Arsenal for two or three years I hope.”
This is all typical Giroud international break stuff, even when it’s going well he often finds something to be melancholy about, so there’s probably little for Arsenal or Wenger to be concerned over.
