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17th Dec 2015

Kelechi Iheanacho has been as valuable as Olivier Giroud this season – despite playing just 165 minutes

Tom Victor

It’s been said that for all of Olivier Giroud’s ability, he doesn’t score enough meaningful goals.

The Arsenal striker is known for clinchers in big wins or consolations in heavy defeats like the 5-1 loss at Bayern Munich, but his ability to net crucial winners has been questioned.

If you thought that was a bit of a myth, think again. Giroud has won Arsenal as many points as Man City youngster Iheanacho – despite the latter starting just once in the Premier League this season.

Without the Nigerian’s late winners against Crystal Palace and Swansea, City would be four points worse off – the same number of points gained by Arsenal thanks to Giroud’s strikes against Palace and Everton.

This is despite Iheanacho being on the pitch for just 165 Premier League minutes this season.

To put that into context, Giroud had already racked up that many minutes before the end of Arsenal’s second game of the campaign, a full 13 days before Iheanacho had even made his City debut.