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Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud scored twice against Newcastle and showed the variety he brings to their attack

Arsenal built on their midweek win away to Galatasaray with a 4-1 home victory over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday Night Football. Fit-again Olivier Giroud scored twice in an impressive display that suggests he can add plenty to the Gunners attack…

“We have Giroud back, we have Walcott back. Slowly they will integrate into the team again and give us different options.” Giroud didn’t take too long to emphasise the point with a fine goal within 15 minutes of his return against Manchester United just days after these comments by Arsene Wenger.

The striker’s contribution in the home win over Southampton – “his physical presence made a difference,” said Wenger – was equally encouraging. But it was his two-goal display leading the line in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Newcastle that really hammered home the point. Arsenal’s attack has an added dimension to it once again.

Giroud gives the Gunners the opportunity to go more direct and, more importantly, to make that ploy work. His selfless back-to-goal play can link attacks and his one-touch lay-offs ensure that the pace of the breakaway is enhanced rather than inhibited. With the movement of Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez either side of the Frenchman, the early signs are encouraging.

Image: Giroud played the pass that put Sanchez away before making a late run into the box to score

Giroud’s work for the opening goal – one that gave Arsenal’s their first half-time lead in eight attempts this season at the Emirates – illustrated this well. After good work by Hector Bellerin, the 28-year-old forward got hold of the ball, spread the play to Sanchez and made the late run into the box. His timing to get on the end of the cross was perfect and the header emphatic.

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Olivier Giroud post-match interview

Typical

It was typical of his work in the first half. “He’s having a fine game, Giroud,” said Niall Quinn on co-commentary for Sky Sports. “He feels he’s going to win every cross that comes in.” It was his movement that earned the space. Giroud produced 40 high-intensity runs before the break, second only to Welbeck’s 41, and he even covered marginally more ground than his athletic team-mate.

Image: Giroud was involved in the build-up to both of his goals near the halfway line before driving on

It highlights the point that Giroud is not merely a static presence in the box. He provided the lay-off that began the move for the second goal and was also the player who recovered possession in the build-up to Arsenal’s third. As with his first goal, Giroud’s subsequent run was rewarded when Bellerin found him with the cross and the trademark near-post finish was delicately done.

That’s four goals in 325 minutes of Premier League action for Giroud so far this season and having also created six chances for others, it represents an overwhelmingly positive influence on the team. The sample size is small but it’s a contribution that stands up in comparison to the celebrated strikers leading the attack for Arsenal’s rivals.

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Giroud stats

PL 2014/15
Player Goals scored per 90 Chances created per 90
Sergio Aguero (Man City) 1.20 1.28
Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) 1.11 1.66
Diego Costa (Chelsea) 0.99 1.89

There will be no great expectation that Giroud can sustain those numbers for the duration of the campaign. But having already shown against Everton and Southampton that he can turn games in Arsenal’s favour from the bench, Saturday offered some evidence that he can also be a significant factor from the start.

Giroud Impact

Arsenal score a Premier League goal every 59 minutes without Olivier Giroud but every 36 minutes with him on the pitch so far this season.

Wenger now has his aerial option in the box and, as the manager himself suggests, Theo Walcott will soon be available to bring his unique pace to the Arsenal attack too. With Champions League matters safely taken care of until mid-February, the Gunners can now focus on their domestic business with the team just two points off West Ham in fourth.

A 4-1 home win over Newcastle is unlikely to restore confidence in Wenger among the doubters. But it might just encourage them that the team has a little more variety to its attacking play.  And for that the credit must go to the robust but refined presence of Olivier Giroud.

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