Van Persie vs Giroud: Can The Frenchman trump the ex-Gunners talisman?

It’s fair to say that Manchester United and Arsenal have enjoyed markedly different starts to the season, while Arsene Wenger has guided his side to the top of the Premier League, David Moyes has struggled to adapt to life at Old Trafford.

However, despite their different fortunes, both clubs have in form strikers amongst their ranks in the shape of Olivier Giroud and Robin van Persie. Giroud’s goals have helped Arsenal to the summit of the table and the Gunners will travel to Manchester on Sunday eight points clear of their opponents.

Meanwhile, van Persie goals have failed to hoist his side any higher than eighth in the table, despite scoring six goals in nine league games. Of the pair, Van Persie has been in the better form of late, scoring in each of his last three league games, while Giroud has scored just once in his last six league appearances.

Giroud’s five goals this season are typical of traditional centre-forward; each of his goals have been scored within the penalty area with one header and the rest with his favoured left foot. The Frenchman has had 29 attempts on goal, with 12 of his attempts finding the target, giving him a shot accuracy of 41%.

Robin van Persie Goals Scored

Van Persie has shown in the past that he is capable of scoring a wide range of goals, and the variety of his strikes is what makes him one of the best strikers in the game. His long-range strike against Swansea on the opening day of the season showed that the 30-year-old is equally adept at scoring from distance as he is at using his predatory instincts within the 18-yard-box.

As well as finding the back of the net themselves, both strikers have helped their team mates get on the score sheet this season with assists. Giroud already has four assists to his name and no player in the Premier League has more. The former Montpellier forward has also created an impressive 17 chances, only Mesut Ozil has created more in the Arsenal side with 20.

In comparison, Van Persie has fashioned just five chances in his nine appearances, although he does have two assists.

A look at Van Persie’s Heat Map from United’s 3-1 win over Fulham shows that the Dutchman rarely spends his time through the middle of the pitch, despite being utilised as the lone striker by Moyes. Van Persie is prepared to move into the channels to look for space and it was a run into a wide area that saw him score United’s second goal of the game at Craven Cottage.

With Wayne Rooney playing in behind Van Persie, the former Arsenal striker is given the freedom to roam the pitch in search of space as Rooney moves further forward into the striker position.

Giroud is a more traditional centre forward and as a result he spends the majority of games leading the Arsenal line through the middle of the pitch. His Heat Map against Crystal Palace shows that the 27-year-old spent the bulk of his time in and around the penalty spot and on the edge of the box.

The French international is the focal point of the Arsenal attacking line and he often looks to hold up the ball and bring his team mates into the game. The majority of the chances Giroud has created this season have been through the middle, with 64% of his created chances coming in the middle third of the pitch and 23.5% coming in the final third.

Both players are key components of their clubs success and their managers will be hoping that their star strikers can make the difference on Sunday. Wenger will be hopeful Giroud can find the back of the net again while Moyes will be hoping that Van Persie can continue his current goalscoring run.