Only 18 completed passes: Marseille stinker proves Wenger needs to buy

After ending a four-game barren spell at the weekend with a match-winning brace versus high-flying Southampton, Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud must have thought that at least one goal was within his reach in the following Champions League fixture versus Marseille, who have the group’s worst defence and had lost each one of their four games prior to their visit to Emirates Stadium. But it turned out to be a frustrating night for the Frenchman.

On a night when Jack Wilshere of all people netted a brace, Giroud couldn’t even register a clear shot on target. The closest he came was having a deflected effort trickle just wide of the near post. The other two efforts were blocked. He ended the game with the lowest Performance Score (-17 points) of any Arsenal player on the night, including the substitutes, but the fault is by no means all his own.

A target man, Giroud thrives on service from his team-mates. On the night, he had little. Different shots of him with his head in his hands, arms flapping about, eyes looking skyward, or of him gesturing to his colleagues where wanted the ball–a ball that subsequently never came–tell the whole story. In this game, it was all about Arsenal’s midfield. Wilshere’s wonderful yet rare brace proves that. Giroud was just a passenger.

It’s not as though he didn’t try to get involved. He dropped deep at times to get a touch of the ball before sprinting forward to find some room, but the Gunners’ main service providers like Ozil and even Sagna, who set up Wilshere’s goal in the opening minute, were more drawn to the enticing runs made by their midfield colleagues. Wilshere’s run from the right flank which led to the opening goal was a fine one, in truth, as was his run into the centre of the penalty area for his second. Aaron Ramsey’s, which led to a close range shot at goal–one which he should have scored–was good as well, typical of him this season.

To Giroud’s credit, he did well to not get in the way of these players. When they made these runs, he either took up another position in the box to offer support or pulled wide to allow them the space inside the area. But that little praise will do nothing to ease the frustration he experienced in front of goal on the night.

He could’ve–and should’ve, upon reviewing the footage–had a penalty after being wrestled blatantly to the ground in the 31st minute, but the referee had none of it. In the 63rd minute, he looked like he was in after Nacho Monreal whipped in a fantastic ball from the left flank for a glancing header, but the defender’s close range block and the resulting rebound off Giroud’s back which landed comfortably in ‘keeper Steve Mandanda’s gloves summed up his night, as did his unfortunate loss of footing as he tried to control the ball for a shot a minute later after Wilshere had played him in on goal.

He will have better days, surely. He shouldn’t dwell on this one. He may be in a bit of a rough patch at the moment, but he has been impressive so far this season. Should he get sufficient service, scoring a goal or two away to Cardiff City at the weekend would remind him of how good he has been and thus give him the boost that he needs. He should be appreciative, however, of the fact that the midfield is stepping up so that they can share the goal-scoring burden with him.