Late Giroud equaliser bodes well for Arsenal (Video)
It may seem like stating the obvious but Olivier Giroud’s dramatic late equaliser to give France a deserved point against an all-conquering Spain side may just be looked upon as one of Arsenal’s most important moments of the season.
It’s fair to say that the former Montpellier hitman has not had the easiest start to life at the Emirates. The weight of replacing goal machine Robin Van Persie has appeared to weigh heavily at times on a man that could not be more different in style from the departed Dutch talisman. Where Van Persie’s technical brilliance often came to the fore, Giroud appears to just lack that sureness of touch. What the Frenchman needed then was an early goal or two for his new club to silence any doubters. Unfortunately, they failed to materialise and worse, several chances were spurned including three howlers against Sunderland, Liverpool and worst of all, at home to Chelsea in the dying moments when having rounded Petr Cech, Giroud could only find the side netting when a goal would have levelled the game at 2-2.
However, there just seems signs of improvement of late. The 26-year-old finally got off the mark for his new club with a goal in the League Cup against Coventry (though he would later miss a penalty) before crucially, grabbing his first league goal for the club in the Gunners’ last match at West Ham.
One thing the Arsenal fans have not been able to fault Giroud for is his work-rate and movement, something he shows in abundance to find himself in the position to head home France’s equaliser against the reigning World and double European champions.
In his short time at the emirates, Giroud has looked very much like a confidence player and so a goal of such importance against Spain will only send his spirits sky high and in turn, only mean goods thing to come for Arsene Wenger’s team.
Adam Mazrani
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