One goal in seven: Will Giroud’s goal drought derail Arsenal’s title challenge?

Arsenal have been sensational so far this season. They have dispatched teams with considerable ease before their first league test against Liverpool. They waltzed past the Reds before their biggest game so far, away to Borussia Dortmund, where they prevented the Germans from scoring whilst bagging one of their own. They have achieved these results without what many would call, a ‘world class striker’.

Olivier Giroud has performed admirably this season, scoring five league goals and creating 17 chances. His work rate has been the most impressive aspect of his game, but his willingness to sacrifice his own goalscoring figures for the benefit of other players in the team could be seen as detrimental by some, while it could be argued he plays the ideal role in Wenger’s Arsenal set-up.

Giroud’s performance in the Premier League this season

A truly world-class striker, like Luis Suarez, who Arsene Wenger coveted in the summer would be more beneficial to the team, some would argue. A striker’s job is primarily to score goals and be the main focal attacking point.

As mentioned earlier, you could easily flip the coin, though. It can be argued that what Giroud is doing is more advantageous for the squad as he brings others into play and allows more players to score, rather than scoring all by himself.

Giroud has assisted four goals in the Premier League so far, which is the joint-most. His flick to Jack Wilshere for his wonderful goal against Norwich City was the pick of the bunch.

In their most recent match against long-time rivals, Manchester United, Giroud found it difficult to stamp his mark on the team’s performance.

The Frenchman struggled throughout, winning less than half of his headed duels (five out of 12). His only cross was unsuccessful and the Frenchman’s three attempted take ons where failed, too.

From his two shots on target, both failed to hit the target; one was blocked while the other went wide of David de Gea’s goal.

His passing on the night was atrocious, too, completing just 60% (24/40) all night – the third-worst in the side.

Giroud’s wayward passing at Old Trafford

Those statistics, in a big game away from home, is not what a table-topping side should deem acceptable.

In fairness, all players have poor games, and they can come in big games. However, when a team play with one central striker, like Arsenal do, they should be expecting more as their reliance on him to, not only score, but create, is huge. And if Giroud is not up to the mark in both of those aspects, then the Gunners – realistically – can’t sustain their heady levels of performance already seen this season.

This is the reason why Wenger tried to sign Suarez after pursuing Gonzalo Higuain. He realised that, as effective as Giroud can be, he still need a world-class forward to lead the line.

Giroud’s performances so far have drawn plaudits, and rightfully so, but is he in the world-class bracket of forwards which can spearhead a title-winning side?

Higuain has scored the same number of goals as Giroud in as many games in Serie A. Suarez has scored more than Giroud in less games, which proves exactly why Wenger wanted him so much.

It’s certainly something for Wenger to ponder as we head towards the January transfer window.

Even if he sees Giroud is his main striker for the rest of the campaign, he’ll still need to sign a forward as Arsenal are painfully short in that department with only Nicklas Bendtner as back-up for the Frenchman.

Wenger will continue his unsuccessful summer pursuit for a striker in January, but will he go all out for a new first-choice hitman or will he sign a back-up to Giroud?