Arsenal Dancing To Giroud’s Tune
Personal information
Full name: Olivier Giroud
Date of birth: 30 September 1986
Age: 28
Place of birth: Chambery, France
Height: 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position: Striker
Club information
Current team: Arsenal
Number: 12
Youth career
1992–1999: Froges
1999–2005: Grenoble
Senior career
2005–2008: Grenoble 25 Appearances, 2 goals
2007–2008 → Istres (loan) 34 Appearances, 14 goals
2008–2010: Tours 67 Appearances, 36 goals
2010–2012: Montpellier 85 Appearances, 39 goals
2012– Arsenal 124 Appearances, 56 goals
National team
2011– France 35 Appearances, 9 goals
Olivier Giroud is targeting a perfect finish to the season to pile the pressure on Barclays Premier League title contenders Chelsea and Manchester City. Giroud is performing outstandingly well at present. He now scored has 13 league goals from 19 appearances in total this season, a ratio that puts him ahead of Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo as one of Europe’s leading marksmen and his strikes have helped Arsenal to become the Premier League’s form team. That’s two goals more than his entirety first season in English football. Given that he missed September, October and most of November with a broken leg, it’s a remarkable record. Only four players have scored more Premier League goals this season, and they’ve all played considerably more games.
Giroud’s brace at Newcastle prior to the international break only added to the Frenchmen’s rich vein of form. This season, he has developed a prolific streak, and both goals at St. James’ Park which gave his side a 2-1 victory over Newcastle, were typical poachers’ efforts. He might have had an assist to his name, too. A typically intelligent flick played in Aaron Ramsey, but the Welshman’s finish went astray. One of the most talented strikers to have emerged from France in recent years, Olivier joined Arsenal in July 2012 from then-Ligue 1 champions Montpellier, for whom he had top-scored in their ‘double’ win the previous season. Prior to that, he represented Tours – playing with Laurent Koscielny – and was named Ligue 2 Player of the Year for 2009/10. Olivier has become an important member of the France squad. He debuted in November 2011 and played in Euro 2012 and was a member of Les Blues’ squad at the 2014 World Cup.
The France international has scored every 97 minutes this season in the Premier League. He’s prolific form in front of goal of late has provided the perfect response to the striker’s critics, which he faced after spurning two clear-cut chances in Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat to Monaco in the Champions League but the 28-year-old believes he has shown the mental strength needed to bounce back from that performance. Giroud might have played a key role in Arsenal’s Champions League exit against Monaco, but the French forward’s form otherwise is as good as any other striker in Europe. Only Lionel Messi can match his statistics in 2015. Giroud believes he is in the best form of his career and that criticism does not affect him after statistics revealed that the Arsenal striker is the most prolific minute-per-goal player in the Premier League this season. And the 28-year-old Frenchman had a colourful riposte for those who said he was arrogant before Arsenal’s recent Champions League exit to Monaco, by using the French phrase “Je ne pète pas plus haut que mon cul” – which translates as “I don’t fart higher than my behind”. The French striker has nine goals in his last 10 appearances to his name this season and is only five goals behind Diego Costa and Harry Kane, who have both played over 500 minutes more than the Arsenal striker.
The Gunners tall centre forward’s impressive streak has helped Arsenal move to within a point of second-placed Manchester City and they look all-but certain to qualify for the Champions League in one of the most competitive battles for the top four in recent years.