Olivier Giroud - what would he provide Arsenal?

Olivier Giroud.

25 year old, Olivier Giroud has all but signed for Arsenal. The talented forward, now at EURO 2012 with France, has seen a meteoric rise in the past few months helping Montpellier to their first ever Ligue 1 title, scoring 25 goals in the process. Arsenal have been scouting the former Tours man for a while and are convinced that Giroud is the man who can strengthen Arsenal’s attack line.

“Arsenal are very interested and Giroud wants to play in England. If Arsene Wenger agrees with the president, he will sign for them.’ –Montpellier manager, Rene Girard.

With a release clause of approximately £12.8 million while Giroud earns minimal wages at Montpellier (and has rejected a new contract there as well according to FootMercato), a deal is likely and well within Arsene Wenger’s range, though it seems Arsenal will be looking to add Marouane Chamakh in the deal in an effort to offload the out-of-place but reputed-in-France, Moroccan.

“We would like Chamakh on loan, as part of the Giroud deal, but I don’t know if it is possible.”

Along with this, Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela are all but leaving Arsenal come August, and with the future of Chu Young Park also in doubt, Arsenal will have done a good job freeing up the wage bill to welcome Giroud into the strike department. With the signing of Lukas Podolski already confirmed, Robin van Persie will now not only have quality backup and be allowed more rest during a season, but the Arsenal captain will and should be convinced about Arsenal’s ambition this coming season as he is still yet to make up his mind on a new contract.

Olivier Giroud after scoring on his France debut.

So what can Giroud provide Arsenal? The 6ft 2inch Frenchman isn’t a ‘Chamakh part two’ coming from the French league – Giroud is pretty much the complete forward. While Chamakh has never scored more than 16 goals in a season, Giroud will arrive at Arsenal on the back of a career-high 25 goals last season. Adding to this, majority of Chamakh’s goals have been headers but Giroud, who is also aerially sound, is capable of everything; bottom corner finishes, headers, scorchers from distance (his first goal for Montpellier being a screamer) and even the extraordinary bicycle kick.

He is also versatile and familiar with a lot of different roles which gives Arsene Wenger a plethora of options in which he could use both or even all three of van Persie, Giroud and Podolski together.

A possible lineup with Podolski, van Persie and Giroud in the team.

Another thing to consider is that while Chamakh was good when given a run of games, the Moroccan hasn’t been able to make an impact off the bench as a substitute – Giroud can very well provide this impact; as he is second to choice to Karim Benzema for France, Giroud has provided 3 assists in a combined 77 minutes in his last 3 substitute appearances for Les Bleus. Not to forget, Giroud scored and assisted a goal in his first start for France, notably against Germany in an away friendly.

All in all, Giroud would be a brilliant signing for the Gunners – will he come? It seems like he will. Best friends and roommates with Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny, Giroud has already spoken about Arsenal;

It’s [Arsenal] an amazing club with a great French coach, and my bro Lolo [Koscielny] is playing there too.” – Olivier Giroud.

To make things even more interesting, Arsene Wenger is apparently staying at the same hotel as Giroud’s agent during the EUROs – it’s just a matter of time before he graces the Premier League.