Neither Olivier Giroud nor Theo Walcott provide enough goal-scoring quality to win Arsenal the Premier League, but competing against each other could push the Gunners close.<\/p>\n
This appears to be the thinking of Arsene Wenger, who failed to strengthen his forward line during the summer. Walcott started the season well, scoring two and providing two assists in 503 minutes\u2019 worth of league football before suffering his current injury, while Giroud proved himself more than useful from the bench.<\/p>\n
With Walcott now absent, Giroud has reclaimed his place as the side’s spearhead. He provides quality link-up play and underrated hustle in a position which can become isolating if Arsenal\u2019s midfielders don\u2019t offer instant support from deep. Fortunately for Giroud, the Gunners often sweep forward and provide him with the opportunity to escape his mark.<\/p>\n
Giroud is proving increasingly lethal in the air and has appeared more willing to engage in physical battles since being dropped. There\u2019s an added bite about his game which has translated to six goals in 531 minutes\u2019 Premier League football this campaign. Wenger has given Giroud something to play and has finally let the player know if he\u2019s not good enough, he won\u2019t play.<\/p>\n
Walcott has always been a valuable asset to Arsenal. Frustrating, yes, but someone who can tear through any side on his day. Even so, Wenger\u2019s inability to play the former Southampton man up front has slowed what could have been a top-class career by now.<\/p>\n
Arsenal fans may cast their mind back to 2012\/13, a season which saw Walcott perform admirably in a striker’s role before inking a new deal in the January window. Once committed, Wenger shoved him back out wide. Walcott netted 14 and provided 10 assists in the aforementioned domestic campaign and could have increased the total by remaining central. He hasn\u2019t reached double figures in either stat before or since.<\/p>\n
Walcott\u2019s direct style naturally panics the opposition (just ask Manchester United) and is enough to push many teams into employing a specific gameplan to stop his progress. He works best on instinct and when there\u2019s no time to overthink. This season has provided the evidence; when was the last time someone complained of his failed delivery from the flank? Like Giroud, Walcott has improved by being placed under pressure and by receiving the role he wants.<\/p>\n
Despite their strengths, it’s difficult to see either Arsenal striker netting 20 Premier League goals this season. Giroud\u2019s best is 16 in the English top flight (he also equalled Walcott\u2019s best of 14 two years ago). Wenger\u2019s goal-scoring midfielders provide a huge boost, but in Giroud and Walcott we are looking at two stars who constantly need a push to fulfil their potential.<\/p>\n
In the end, it\u2019s difficult to suggest either possess the all-round game to lead Arsenal to glory, and indeed, maintain their place up front when the next summer\u2019s transfer window opens. There aren’t many of superstar attackers available right now.<\/p>\n
Talk of Karim Benzema is fantastical while Real Madrid can’t get their hands on Sergio Aguero or someone similar. Alexandre Lacazette perhaps isn\u2019t as refined as many would have hoped, although he could excel at the Emirates Stadium. Unless a huge amount of money is made available just to be spent on a striker, Arsenal fans are going to see the Giroud-Walcott tussle continue.<\/p>\n
Wenger knows this. He will bide his time before landing the next Thierry Henry or Robin van Persie. Until then, his decision to pit the best of what he\u2019s got against each other has the potential to pay dividends for Arsenal. Giroud and Walcott are never going to be complete players\u2014those you rely on week-in-week-out\u2014but friendly competition has so far made both sharper. If this continues, a surprising amount of success will follow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Neither Olivier Giroud nor Theo Walcott provide enough goal-scoring quality to win Arsenal the Premier League, but competing against each other could push the Gunners close. This appears to be the thinking of Arsene Wenger, who failed to strengthen his forward line during the summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[643],"tags":[174,177,227],"class_list":["post-9073","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sport","tag-news","tag-ticker","tag-wenger"],"yoast_head":"\n