Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: I can rely on Olivier Giroud

Sidelined: Giroud has found action hard to come by at Arsenal this season
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
James Benge14 October 2016

Arsene Wenger has provided his backing to Olivier Giroud as the Arsenal striker continues to find himself waiting on the sidelines.

The French striker has managed just 78 club minutes this season with his delayed return from Euro 2016 hampered by a big toe injury that is set to rule him out for at least the next two games, at home to Swansea and Ludogrets.

Even on his return the 30-year-old may struggle to regain his oft-debated role as Arsenal’s first-choice centre forward. Wenger’s gamble on transforming Alexis Sanchez in a centre forward appears to be paying off – the Chilean has scored five in nine club games so far – but there could still be a place for Giroud in Wenger’s plans.

“I am an admirer of Giroud because he has gone through some tough times and he bounces back,” Wenger said. “When his back is to the wall, he has an answer every time.

“When I go into a big game, you always think: ‘I can rely on him.’ You know that when the competition starts, he will be with you.”

Giroud has not always been embraced by either Arsenal or France fans and was even booed by some of his own supporters on his last start at the Emirates, when he scored a hat-trick in a win over Aston Villa that secured second place at the expense of Tottenham.

“The criticism does knock him,” Wenger added. “He’s not made of metal. He’s sensitive but sensitive and strong. Everybody wants to be loved. I’ve never seen anyone who dreams to be hated. But it is dealing with the fact that it doesn’t always go your way that makes a man.”

On his return from injury Giroud will find an Arsenal side whose current style of play, based on the direct running and pace of Sanchez and Theo Walcott, is ill-suited to his more physical game.

However even on a run of five straight Premier League wins Wenger has found himself missing the robust Frenchman, as in the last minute victory over Burnley earlier this month when Arsenal had no-one to match up to the physicality of Michael Keane and Ben Mee.

Once he has a greater complement of attacking options available to him Wenger intends to take a more varied approach to his team line ups and is convinced there will be plenty of opportunities for Giroud.

“Sanchez can also play on the flank, like he has before,” Wenger said. “He’s happy to play on the flank and up front. I will have to try to find the best solution game by game.”

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