More than just a poacher.
If you thought that Olivier Giroud was no more than a target man then perhaps you, and Arsene Wenger for that matter, best reevaluate the forward’s abilities.
Giroud has admitted that he may be forced to leave Arsenal this summer due to a lack of playing time but he’s taking advantage of each and every opportunity that’s presented to him on the international stage.
On Friday night, during France’s 2-1 defeat to Sweden in their World Cup Qualifier, Giroud added to his incredible record for his country by scoring his 17th goal in 17 starts for Les Bleus.
Olivier Giroud's recent record for France:
17 starts 🏃
17 goals ⚽️Delivers for his country. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/7uLGJWHxH3
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 9, 2017
But it wasn’t just any old tap-in from the 30-year-old.
Giroud opened the scoring by lashing the ball beyond Robin Olsen in the Sweden goal with gorgeous technique.
Giroud scores an absolute screamer against Sweden pic.twitter.com/bd3d2gA6rS
— Terje (@AfcTerjex) June 9, 2017
It looks entirely possible that the forward, who has been at the Emirates since 2012, has already played his last game for the North London club and that he will be on the move during the current transfer window.
“I will put up with the transfer market,” Giroud said this week. “I will discuss with the coach but he is relying on me.
“It is true that I have had limited playing time but it was for a certain amount of time, it is true there were things against me. I will not settle for another year with such little playing time.
“I will have to think carefully to consider it with my relatives and my advisers. It will be a decision that will be maturely thought about to have more playing time.”
