What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the name Olivier Giroud? A tall, strong Number 9 who is ferocious in front of the goal. Since joining Arsenal from Montpellier in 2012, the towering Frenchman has been one of the most regular faces for the London based club in the last decade.
In Arsenal, his predecessors were the likes of Thierry Henry and Robin Van Persie. So his goal-scoring prowess was never going to be enough to amaze the Arsenal fans. After scoring 105 goals in 253 appearances in all competitions, Giroud joined Chelsea on the deadline day of the 2018 winter transfer window His first full season with the club, 2018-19, saw him making 27 Premier League appearances, but Frank Lampard's arrival, games have been far too in between for the 2018 World Cup winner.
Giroud has featured in only seven Premier League games this season under Lampard, who is evidently not a fan of Giroud's abilities. The manager brought in a freshness to the team and his faith was placed on the young guns. Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James and Calum Hudson-Odoi started the season with a lot of flares. Abraham, for all, has scored 13 goals in 25 appearances, but an injury in the second half of the season has forced the English manager to test to his bench strength.
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14 - Olivier Giroud has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 14 starts for Chelsea in all competitions, scoring 10 and assisting four. Entrusted. #CHETOT pic.twitter.com/5iZWcSd253
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 22, 2020
On came the unused Giroud, who was linked with a move away from Chelsea throughout the January transfer window, with Inter and Tottenham lurking closer. Nothing eventually materialised as Lampard somehow convinced the Frenchman that he indeed has a future, at least for the rest of the season.
So with Michy Batshuayi misfiring during the given opportunities, Lampard had nowhere to go. The statistics 33-year-old Frenchman has mustered this season are far from impressive. He has had only 284 minutes of action in the Premier League and a mere 78 minutes in the Champions League. While goals have not been so easy to score, Giroud has certainly added another dimension to the attack.
713 - Olivier Giroud will start his first Champions League game since 14 March 2018 (with Chelsea against Barcelona), 713 days ago. Unbreakable. pic.twitter.com/dF66pkDeyk
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) February 25, 2020
Unlike Abraham, Giroud offers a more lethal approach in the attack given that he a strong and physical player who can hold up defenders, win aerial duels and disturb the centre backs with clever movements. What further works in his favour is that he is probably the best header of the ball in the Premier League.
Giroud has the experience of playing in a top side for a long time. He has played 32 Champions League matches with 12 goals and six assists against his name. These stats show he had exactly what Lampard required from his lead attacker. The break finally came for the 33-year-old when Abraham was out of the Manchester United match with a foot injury and although the Red Devils won, Chelsea were denied two goals by VAR, one of them was a fantastic header by Giroud.
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First PL goal for Olivier Giroud since April 3. What a crucial one it could be. #cfc
— Joe Krishnan (@joekrishnan) February 22, 2020
The Frenchman was by far the most troublesome player on the pitch against the Red Devils. His return to form was rewarded against Tottenham Hotspur where he scored his first goal of the season - also his first league goal since April 2019 - as the Blues lodged a much-needed victory at Stamford Bridge.
Even against Bayern Munich, Giroud was phenomenal. In a match where he was the only outlet for Chelsea, he did just what the manager would've wanted him to do. He won duels, held off the defenders, freed his wingers and created the best of the opportunities.
Olivier Giroud, a few minor technical mistakes aside, with a very complete 60 minute performance tonight vs Bayern Munich - service from midfield largely poor, but held the ball up very well centrally. Chelsea much more shapeless going forward after taking Giroud off.
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) February 25, 2020
One can say that Abraham has more pace than Giroud, is direct and he has more tricks up his sleeve but given his experience and proven goal-scoring ability, it often feels strange that Giroud does not get enough games. After his performance in the last three fixtures, Lampard should put some faith in him. He surely is one of the most underrated strikers in the Premier League.
