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#3 Olivier Giroud invites a focal point for Chelsea
Now, Lampard's selection with respect to leading the attack with Olivier Giroud was perhaps the smartest option for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, he leads the press upfront, guides and directs the crosses that come in and owns invaluable experience to play around a bunch of youngsters.
Secondly, Giroud may not have the most prolific record in the league and isn't someone who can give you 25 goals in a season, but the Frenchman's tireless nature, link-up play and aerial skills are as good as anyone else's in the league.
He's not someone with the most venomous shooting boots, but Giroud can create something out of little and finish from acute angles.
Not once or twice, but thrice, we saw him splitting the opposition defense with sublime hold-up and combination play.
As aforementioned, his control with the chest in the very first minute of the game got the Stamford Bridge crowd off their seats. Just a couple of minutes later, he used his physicality to one again lay it on a platter to Mason Mount, who smashed one, almost giving Chelsea the lead.
Finally, his back-heel to Kante just after the half an hour mark showed just how aware and intelligent he is inside the 18-yard box. He certainly should have played about 10-12 minutes more.
