Daily Bits and Bobs

Olivier Giroud – Sell or not to sell? No regrets says Arsene Wenger…

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

The big Frenchman has made the headlines this morning. Marseille are ready to offer £20 million for Ollie in the summer. True or not, who knows but if it is, then if I had anything to do with who stays and who goes at Arsenal, I’d snap the French clubs hands off. Where does he fit in now with our newly found formation?

If Arsene Wenger is staying put which sadly looks more likely each day, we need a better and quicker centre forward in the side. Pace is the way forward in this league and all Ollie does is slow our attack down but yes, we’ve been saying that for years. On Sunday, when we did get the ball into the box, where was he? It’s good to have a big strong centre forward but Ollie is no Ibra, Costa or Lukaka is he? Arsene Wenger was questioned about this rumour this morning in his Press Conference and he said there’s been no approach from the French club and in any case Arsenal want to keep Giroud. Since when does he tell the truth surrounding transfers eh.

Anyway, that’s all for the summer and before then, we have eight fixtures to get through including the FA Cup Final and if you are interested in getting a ticket for any of these fixtures, just head to Football Ticket Pad.

Tomorrow night we face Leicester City who of late have been in good form albeit they’ve recently been thumped by Everton and held to a draw Big Sam’s men. In the Champions League they put up a good fight against a very good Atletico Madrid side so the task ahead is not going to be easy, especially having to play 120 minutes on Sunday. The players legs will no doubt have been feeling the after effects.

But they’ve had three days to recover. These players are fit athletes so really, tiredness should be no excuse. Also, we have a squad, so the manager has to use it, especially with the NLD on Sunday.

Again Wenger has been questioned about his future but he was giving nothing away, although he did say he’s already thinking about the summer transfer window and potential targets which I’m sure he wouldn’t be if he was leaving because any new manager would want his own players bought in. He also said that his future will not be decided on where we finish come the end of May.

He might continue with three at the back tomorrow, he might not. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a doubt having left Wembley on crutches but that was a precaution only. Apparently he was kicked on Sunday and it’s nothing more than that. But if he doesn’t play tomorrow, Gabriel can play at right back in a three man defence he said which is strange as surely Bellerin would be the guy to replace him.

A word for our match winner Alexis Sanchez:

He has been remarkably efficient. He had a very good spell when he played up front.
When he plays on the flank he is more of a provider. He can always turn up with something special. He has the individual quality to make the difference.

Finally, when asked if he had any regrets after not securing the signing of Jamie Vardy, he said no…

I wonder if Vardy has any regrets…..

rico

91 thoughts on “Olivier Giroud – Sell or not to sell? No regrets says Arsene Wenger…”

  1. allezkev says:

    Morning All…

    Morning Rico, good post.

    I guess what happens with Alexis will influence Girouds future, especially as Welbeck has some fitness issues and Perez is very much on the fringes, otherwise we’ll end up with Theo at centre-forward again…

    There isn’t anyone in the Stiffs whose looking able to step up unless Akpom finds another level or three over the summer, so if Giroud does leave Wenger (or whoever) will need to add striker or two over the summer.

    All that considered, I doubt that many Arsenal fans would be against Giroud moving on at this stage of his career and at his age, but I reckon nearer to €30 million for an international centre-forward.

  3. Adam says:

    Morning Rico. I can envisage problems ahead if Alexis says he definitely wants to leave. If that happens I doubt he will see out his contract. As for Giroud? Sell – but only if you have a quality, powerful striker to replace him with.

  10. Wavy says:

    John Radford for me!
    Geri Giroud has been pants all season!
    Lukaku should have been snapped up when he was allowed to leave the chavs, too late now. Apart from which, Usminov’s mate is hardly going to sell his prize asset to Usminov, is he? I mean you just don’t sell to your rivals, ever. Well, Wenger does!! (Nob!)

    Bright and sunny here, wall to wall blue skies but, a real chilly wind.

  11. George says:

    afternoon all

    Sell OG.

    Give Akpom the 4th choice striker role. We are letting the postman go , and it appears Perez is off, so if we hang onto Alexis by sheer fluke, we can use the 30m odd generated between Lucas Perez and Ollie to buy a decent striker, who is proven

    I very much doubt Wenger out though Adam/ Rico

  21. Alex says:

    Morning Rico

    I predict Liverpool,Manure and us will end up with 74 points and top 4 decided on goal differences.

    What your prediction ?

  25. Adam says:

    Rico. I still cling to the hope that Wenger will leave as the tasks ahead of him mount up. The board know that he is not the future and surely they cannot be content to let him set the club’s agenda.

  26. rico says:

    As do I Adam. I guess it’s down to how much the board stamp their feet in order to get their own way..

    I just can’t see one reason for him to stay…

  27. Wavy says:

    Do the Board have a clue about what to do? I think they are clueless, all of them. How can they make a considered, rational decision if they have nothing ‘football’ between their ears? And with Kronke the rodeo rider unable to understand the rudiments of ‘soccer’ at all and or the mechanics of how a premier league club should be run, we find ourselves with a bit of a quandary!

  28. potter says:

    Been saying that for a long time. Like Cameron over Brexit they are totally unprepared for the unexpected. It had never occurred to them that he might go and they have done little or nothing to go about his replacement . I said weeks ago that he will do at least one more year and then go upstairs and run the board. I still think that will happen and that he will replace Gazidis who will go or get moved sideways

  33. Le Coq Monster says:

    Unbelievable decission by the FA…………….not like he`s (Taylor) going to hold a grudge after being swore at and having his parentage questioned !………….rotten to the core !.

  35. Le Coq Monster says:

    All I remember is he was the 4th official that Wenger had a spat with !…………………..oh and he reffed us against `boro the other night !………..so maybe he aint too bad and I`m just being paranoid ! hahaha

  36. rico says:

    Maybe I got that wrong then… still don’t like him, he’s useless…

    Don’t suppose football will miss Joey Barton…

  37. Le Coq Monster says:

    What`s happened with Bartron ?……………has he been arrested for impersonating a EPL footballer and taking wages under false pretense ?

  49. Le Coq Monster says:

    More hypocrisy !…………………I was under the impression it was only Messi and Ronaldo we could not afford !………………..maybe Wenger and Gazidis just love spurting out lie after lie !………………or is it bullshit after bullshit !

    “Of course [we’re targeting Mbappe],” Wenger told SFR Sport. “It would be hypocritical and a lie to say we’re not following him.

    “But he’s perhaps already in the category of clubs who perhaps have more financial potential than us.”

  52. Le Coq Monster says:

    As far as I know, no clubs have the amount of “potential” Arsenal have in the bank !

    Link below is a year old !

  55. BT62 Gooner says:

    Rico, while talking to friend a couple of weeks back, i said, i wouldn’t be surprised if Arsenal went on a typical end of season run and scrape their way back into the top four. Though it would be hard but not impossible..

    It’s bonus time….lol

  62. Le Coq Monster says:

    Just see this on newsnow !

    Uber has unveiled plans to develop and test a network of flying cars by 2020 .

    What a bummer for Kev !…………………….he now has to get a pilots licence if he wants to keep up with Uber and earn an honest living ! 🙂

  78. Kel says:

    Tight game but the gunners deserved it as all Leicester done was sit back tbh..

    The one thing we definitely need this summer is a bloody good striker because when Sanchez ain’t quite at it we’re toothless.

  82. micko says:

    Kel 9.58, they’re hardly gonna fall for the dodgy lasagna again are they and we’re not exactly experts in pizza either are we, it don’t look good does it !

    1998 and Marc Overmar’s makes it 10 straight wins on the trot for us, ok I’m turning into a bit of a romancer.

    This time last year this game would have been a top 4 shoot out, tonite it looked like two teams with nothing to play for.

  84. micko says:

    Jm, always thought he was over-rated meself, lets be honest what did he ever do for the world of football !

  86. Le Coq Monster says:

    Agree with micko…………I mean, even the “Cruyff Turn” was nicked off me !……………..I was at The Dog Show and having a kick about in the car park when a dog tried to get the ball off of me, but I sent him the wrong way with new move of dragging the ball the other way with my back heel and just at that moment Johan Cruyff walked by and said to me ….”Wow !, what is that move ? “………….I told him I called it the ” Crufts Turn” !………the rest is history !

    Morning all from a blistering Cornwall .

  88. allezkev says:

    Morning Rico, I guess that the energy and emotion expended in a tense 180 minutes at Wembley, was bound to have an effect on us, Tottenham only did 90 minutes even though they lost and had another 24 hours to recover.

    It’s 3 points in the bag and another win.
    Nobody will be expecting Arsenal to stop Tottenhams winning run this Sunday, so as with Wembley we’ll go there with low expectations.

    I was a bit surprised that Holding was left out of the 18 because he was one of our best players at Wembley. I’d certainly have him in the team in front of Gibbs.

    Koscielnys fitness is a bit of a worry as we’ll need him against Kane, who is certain to score anyway. Give me a draw now and I’d snap your hand off.

  89. rico says:

    Morning Kev.

    Agree, a few of them must have been heavy legged. Holding I guess will be back for the NLD and just had a rest…

    I’d take the draw now too, but then win all the others…

  91. allezkev says:

    Just seen the Koscielny injury Rico, I reckon he’s out of Sunday, so unless Mertesaker is going to be thrown in, which to me is too risky, then our back three will be Paulista, Holding and Monreal, with Gibbs and Ox as wing-backs, 3 English out of 5 defenders, in a very English type game.

    I wonder if, despite his average performance yesterday, if Wenger will go with Walcott again?
    Theo does have a very good record again ‘them’…

    Mind you, I can’t remember Theo doing anything much at WHL so forget that… ?

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