It almost seems perfect that the exhibitionist style football of Arsenal would be ushered back in by Olivier Giroud. It wasn't too long ago that the mountain of a striker was apologizing publicly for an alleged public affair. Pictures of him hiding under the bed sheets in a shallow hotel room while an unknown woman was standing in view were embarrassing enough, but the striker being dropped for the next match added to the hilarity of the situation.
The rise of Olivier Giroud and Arsenal’s sexy football
Wengerball has been sorely missed and the unlikeliest of players is bringing it back
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It was another case of typical Giroud. The same way he bumbled his way to missing easy chances on the field were reflected on his inability to handle life outside of it. But the Frenchman’s oblivious nature seems to also be his greatest strength.
His transformation this season into a good striker is as much about his air-headed nature as it is his mental strength. During preseason, he was Muhammad Ali-esque in proclaiming that he’s done things differently for the upcoming title fight. He’s changed his diet. Instituted new training techniques and changed his overall approach to improving his game. It sounded silly at the beginning, until he started actually being good, which is still mind-blowing.
Giroud’s last two starts are great examples of his personal change and the way he’s brought the sexy back to Arsenal. He was absolutely horrid in the Champions League game against Monaco; the Ligue 1 side’s win had more to do with Giroud returning to his old ways than their defense being solid. He was missing opportunities that Nicklas Bendtner would have put away. Countless times he posed in his iconic hands-on-head-exasperated-at-his-own-uselessness pose. His eyes cried out for the ground to swallow him to hide the shame.
His situation wasn't helped when Danny Welbeck returned to slay Manchester United Oedipus style. Old narratives and doubts resurfaced. Maybe it's time to drop the lumbering forward, they said, and the heavens nodded. But stubbornness seems to be a trait of the French as Arsene Wenger reinserted him back into the lineup against West Ham United. And boy, oh boy, did it pay off.
Where many players -- and to no fault of their own -- would have folded under the boos of the crowd, Giroud thrived. It was as if he couldn’t comprehend the fans’ anger, that he was so confident in himself that doubts were as fleeting as his fluffs on the ball. He’s foolish, but it saved him from the pressure.
To begin, one of Giroud’s greatest footballing powers is his one touch layoffs. Playing in a team overcrowded with playmakers, his ability to suck in defenders and play one-twos with onrushing teammates is vital. It’s a simple trait that many strikers confusedly lack. It speeds up the game and allows the striker to spin off and create space after, while allowing his teammates to break through the defense without having to be too elaborate. Rather you have forwards who take too many touches or hold the ball for far too long as the defenders converge.
Regardless, take a look at the goals scored by Arsenal against West Ham:
In the first goal, he receives the ball from Mesut Özil, and just one touches it back, Then he spins off the defender, creating space for Özil to pass it to the running Aaron Ramsey. Giroud, as confident as ever then takes the ball off Ramsey’s foot, cuts inside and rifles the ball into the far corner.
The best part of Ramsey’s goal is the dummy that Giroud does as the throw-in comes at him. He draws the defenders out of position, then he circles around, receives the ball and one-touches it to the midfielder for the finish. It’s so beautiful and all down to his movement and unselfishness.
The third one is great for many reasons. Last season, that play would have died as soon as Cazorla received the ball because Giroud would have marked himself out of the game by being too deep between the defenders. Instead, once he sees the little woodland elf with the ball, he drops to make himself available. After he receives it, he clips it over the defenders for Cazorla to run into and then he races into the box. Though he didn’t receive the pass back, he gave Cazorla another option if the midfielder wanted to pull the ball back.
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All three goals are aesthetically pleasing and it’s all down to Giroud changing his otherwise stagnant movement. It’s also a testament to his mentality that he was able to pinpoint his weaknesses from the past and worked to not only correct them but to make them into strong attributes. The game is simple and yet it’s incredibly hard to play simple. But when it comes off, it makes the heart flutter.
We can only hope that Arsene Wenger was merciful enough to allow cigarettes in the showers after this game. Arsenal's performance was superb, and Giroud was at the heart of it. The way he contributed is the antithesis of what the Adonis of strikers has been known for, and a return to form for a team that has missed the signature Wengerball of the past. He's scored more than 50 goals for the North London club and though he still has inexplicable moments, he's only getting better.
His next test is to redeem himself against Monaco in the second leg, but the man who once mused that he can’t help how handsome he is in an Arsenal ad is strong enough for the task. He’s bringing sexy football back to Arsenal and his lack of self-awareness seems to be the key. It would be silly if it didn’t work so well.
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