-
-
What can Arsenal fans expect from Olivier Giroud? French football expert Andrew Gibney has the lowdown on the new Gunner
Our man profiles the France striker and details how he will fit into Arsene Wenger's team
'A wonderfully gifted player': Andrew Gibey says Arsenal fans should be excited about their new signing
If the 2012 summer transfer window was a 100 metre sprint then Arsene Wenger has come flying out of the blocks.
Completing his move for German forward Lukas Podolskibefore the European Championships was very untypically Wenger and seemed to signal his intent for this summer.
This morning the next piece in Arsenal’s jigsaw has been put into place. A deal for French striker Olivier Giroud- reported to be worth £13m - has been finalised and the joint top scorer from Ligue 1 last year will take his place in a new look front-line at the Emirates stadium this season.
With the Giroud deal done there are now question marks over the future of Robin van Persie.
Will Giroud be a replacement or a partner for the Dutchman? This question will run and run over the coming weeks, but for now Arsenal fans should to be joyful that in Giroud they have signed a wonderfully gifted player who will flourish no matter who you put beside him.
Where has he come from?
Two years ago the name of Olivier Giroud wasn’t known to many, and with good reason.
He had just finished his second season with FC Tours in Ligue 2. The team finished mid-table, 11 points off the promotion places and ended with the 6th best attack in the league with 47 goals.
Amazingly 21 of those goals came from their star-man and top marksman Olivier Giroud.
One man who did know the name Giroud was Montpellier president Louis Nicollin. After hearing the player had met in Paris with representatives from Scottish giants Celtic he quickly phoned the striker to say “What the f*** are you doing going to Kilmarnock?”
This instantly endeared Giroud to the eccentric “Loulou” Nicollin and the €2.5 million pound move to take the Frenchman to the South of France was completed.
It was the big move Giroud had been hoping for, but after making his way in France’s lower leagues for the past six years it was a huge step to go from playing in the third tier to the top flight in just two years.
“There is a huge difference between Ligue 1 and Ligue 2,” he admitted. “I had a knot in my stomach before our first match against Bordeaux. I was tense at the Mosson. I’ve a tendency to put extra pressure on myself.”
And the pressure was definitely on Giroud’s shoulders to perform. He was signed to replace the goals of striker Victor Hugo Montano after Montpellier had performed wonderfully to finish fifth.
Olivier Giroud in action for MontpellierGetty
After losing a number of key players it was always going to be difficult to repeat that success, and they did indeed find it difficult, ending the season 14th.
It had been a long hard slog for new boss Rene Girard, but the potential was there. Giroud finished the season with 12 goals in 37 games - his skills were starting to develop and the fans knew they had a talented player in their midst.
During the end of his first season at Montpellier both Lille and Marseille were fighting for the title. OM came to the Stade de la Mosson needing a victory to close the gap on Lille but they got a fright in the form of Olivier Giroud.
Constantly causing a threat to the Marseille back-line with his intelligent movement, exceptional upper body strength and the expertise he shows when leading the line-up top on his own it was no surprise when in the 64th minute he unleashed his lethal left foot and left Marseille keeper Steve Mandanda with no chance as his strike flashed inside the post.
New Gunner: See first pics of new boy Olivier Giroud in Arsenal kit
It was a sign that Giroud and this Montpellier team had nothing to fear, and that there was much more to come. No one would have predicted the position Montpellier would find themselves only 14 months later.
To go from finishing 14th in the league to being crowned French champions is an amazing story in itself.
For Giroud it was been a meteoric rise. Finishing with 21 league goals, nine assists and a place in Laurent Blanc’s Euro 2012 squad would have been unthinkable the previous season.
After winning their opening game against Auxerre 3-0 at home “La Paillade” travelled north to face the reigning Champions Lille and the result would trigger the start of a wonderful season for both player and club.
After soaking up constant pressure from the home side Montpellier broke forward midway through the second half. A superb pass from Jamel Saihi found the run of Giroud and the forward – under extreme pressure from Franck Beria – lifted the ball over the keeper and into the empty net. A surprise victory at the time, but for Giroud it was a taste of things to come.
What kind of player is he?
When you look back on his 21 league goals it is impossible to pin Giroud down into a certain category.
He's got the full range of skills in his locker: headers, close range finishes, volleys from outside the area, and of course the exquisite lob against Nancy.
Interviewed on the pitch after the game he was asked if he meant it. He laughed, and afterwards in the dressing room he described it as “un centre-lob-tir" (a "cross/lob/shot") and admitted that he hadn't.
He is also good on the ball - the phrase “good touch for a big man” could have been coined for Giroud himself.
How will he fit into the Arsenal team?
Now he will take the next step in his career and the pressure once again is on his shoulders.
Should he have to lead the line on his own in Robin van Persie’s absence then it will be a huge test of character and mental strength, one which he is well capable of fulfilling.
Strike partner? Robin van Persie would dovetail well with Giroud, says AndrewBryn Lennon / Getty
If van Persie does stay then the Arsenal fans should be very excited. Lukas Podolski has shown for his country how versatile he can be, the German could play out on the left, cutting inside to provide a threat, or he could play the role he played for FC Koln and partner a striker up top.
For Giroud, you have to play him as the central point of the attack, not only is he a predator around the penalty area, but one of his strongest assets is bringing people into play. The nine league assists show this in abundance.
After van Persie’s 30 league goals last season it would be smart to play the Dutchman as close to the goal as possible. Partnering Giroud and van Persie upfront together could be a masterstroke from Arsene Wenger.
Both players would have to adapt their club roles slightly, but the quality that both possess should make this a mouth-watering prospect.
Giroud is not your typical greedy, spotlight hugging striker. He always wants to do what is best for the team - winning is ultimately the goal.
In front of his home fans Giroud’s last touch in the Stade de la Mosson was an unselfish one, and the moment that all but sealed Montpellier’s first ever title.
Drawing 0-0 at home to Lille and with PSG winning 3-0 the home side needed all three points if they were to keep their three point advantage going into the final game.
Deep into injury time Lille were also throwing all they had at the Montpellier defence, trying to keep in the title hunt, when a long clearance out of the home defence looped towards Giroud.
With one motion the striker controlled the ball on his chest, and knocked it towards the Lille box.
Lille’s defence chased back and Giroud knew he didn’t have the pace to make it all the way, so he edged towards goal taking the ball as deep as possible.
Lille’s goalkeeper Mickael Landreau was drawn towards the ball and with his last touch on his home ground Giroud looked up and picked out Karim Ait-Fana at the back post.
The winger turned the ball home sending the home fans into ecstasy.
The home fans partied into the night and being there to witness the celebrations is something I will never ever forget.
During the chants for their team every so often a chant of “GIROUD, GIROUD, GIROUD” would fill the night sky.
He will forever be a Montpellier legend and no matter what he does in the rest of his career the name of Giroud will have a special place in the hearts of Montpellier fans.
Is he just another Chamakh?
Flop: Marouane Chamakh has not been a success at Arsenal, but Giroud will be different
Pulling on the red jersey of Arsenal, his new fans might be tempted to mention Marouane Chamakh in the same breath, but these are two different players, different personalities with different abilities.
Anyone that has watched Giroud’s rise in the past two seasons will have any doubt that he will score goals and become a huge fan favourite at the Emirates.
How can you not like a player that practices overhead kicks in training!
***
Follow Andrew Gibney on Twitter @AGibneyFtbland read more from him at frenchfootballweekly.com
***
Got him! Arsenal confirm Olivier Giroud will join the club in a £13m deal
New Gunner: See first pics of new boy Olivier Giroud in Arsenal kit -
These "French" players - Seeing is believing!
There is the Ivorian Gervinho and there is the Moroccan Chamakh and...????"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."Comment
Tweet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob8xTYXmMko&feature=related
Comment