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| Taken from Facebook |
Olivier Giroud is recognisable with French Football fanatics with the man topping the golden boot this year alongside a massive achievement of helping Montpellier to a league title against every odd possible.
Giroud started out in the lower leagues of the French league but looks set to make the career defining move across the channel to head up a revolution in North London where alongside hopefully Robin Van Persie among others he can shoot Arsenal back into the big time.
The season that just past was one to forget and many of the faithful that are littered around the Emirates and further afield are sincerely hoping that Giroud is the knight in shining armour. The question is, though, how did this young man come to the attention of “Le Professeur” Arsene Wenger?
The parallels people are making with this young man is that of one Ian Wright, the development of both men was late in terms of their football with Giroud only signing his first deal professionally at the age of 19 for a small provincial side called Grenoble. His career somewhat stalled after that, though, where he got caught between mediocrity and some shining sparks of pure talent.
That has defined his career to date though, Giroud has never been the most attractive of players in terms of getting places and having a reputation that precedes him; in fact Giroud only took part in one youth international team at the age of 16 but never managed to get a run out. It is that steely determination that has seen him embrace those experiences in a way to improve himself and come back stronger from every possible set back that put him in the radar of Arsene Wenger.
| Giroud while donning Tours colors in Ligue 2. (Taken from Tours FC Blog) |
That mental stability could be a massive asset over the next few years as the new kids on the block all begin to create a new breed of Arsenal , the question for me really is where Giroud will play next year positional wise.
More qualified bloggers on the red and white men will have more information than me, that is a given, but Giroud’s ability to play up on his own will mean a smooth transition where Arsenal suffered at times last year especially in big games that if Robin was being shackled, there was effectively no plan B.
However, I firmly believe how much of a success Giroud will be will firmly and utterly depend on the players Arsenal put around him, a midfield sprinkled with players that can spilt defences in a millisecond is what we need but more departures especially from what looks like Alex Song could spell a few months of getting used to for the big man from France, months Arsenal can’t afford to lose, as so brutally learned last year.
Written by Pearse Corcoran
Follow me on Twitter @CorcoranPearse
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