NaNaNa Giroud, the song fans enchanted at Emirates every time they were in cry of a goal since last five years. Yes, Oliver Giroud – someone who bleeds Arsenal and undoubtedly is a Gunner by blood.
The Frenchman will turn against his heart when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge this Saturday.
Giroud spent 5 years with Arsenal, establishing himself as a respected figure amongst the squad as well as someone fans loved when he left. Yes, he used to come under the table often but this guy is a fighter and basically made everyone singing his name every time Arsenal need a goal.
Giroud scored 105 goals for Arsenal becoming only eighteenth player to achieve that feat.
Oliver Giroud has deep history with Arsenal and it will actually be awkward watching him play against them rather than fighting with them.
Chelsea acquired the services of Giroud in winter last season when he was forced to look out for a club after the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette in the summer followed by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the winter and World Cup hanging around the corner. He was France’s first choice striker until that moment and that post demanded minutes, therefore with playtime not guaranteed at Arsenal the big man found love from Chelsea.
He did have a decent outing under Antonio Conte at Chelsea last season and established well publicized partnership with Stamford Bridge’s super hero Eden Hazard.
Arsenal’s prodigal son will return to face them as a World Champion and Gunners really need to worry about it.
The first thing Unai Emery’s men especially Mesut Ozil have to try and not pass that ball to Olivier Giroud, ‘just kidding’.
Giroud will be a threat not only in front of goal but also a threat bringing in players around him into the play. Other than that, Olivier is someone who would just ruin Arsenal’s way of pressing and getting back the ball, but How? – Sokratis and Mustafi will have to give their one hundred percent controlling the big French target men which would give an additional duty to offensive players who will have to come and chase for the balls deep inside their own half.
Giroud won the World Cup with France in Russia and had an integral passive role to play
Rejuvenation under Sarri
Olivier Giroud found it hard to get on the score sheets under Conte despite making decent impact on the game. It is something he also struggled with at World Cup with France. THOSE days could be long gone as he enters Maurizio Sarri’s era at Chelsea.
One thing we have seen about Sarri over the period of time is that all of his strikers score goals and it just could be the case when Giroud works with Sarri.
Maybe he would be a target man as Antonio Conte wanted him to be, but this time in an efficient manner.
The long story which Giroud aims to write in golden words this season starts this Saturday when Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge. He may just turn into a fan favorite at Chelsea too if he would score those important goals on regular basis as he did for Arsenal.
