Daily Bits and Bobs

Why Is Arsene Wenger So Surprised? Will Olivier Giroud Struggle To Get Back Into The Team?

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Rumour/Gossip

Fabian Schar, the Swiss central defender linked to us in time gone by is ready to leave FC Basel for a new challenge. He’s not fussed which country he moves to as long as he’s playing for a top club. That of course has led to this mornings newspapers again suggesting he could be coming our way.

Jamie Redknapp thinks Olivier Giroud might struggle to get his place back due to the form of Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck – and the return from injury of Theo Walcott. Writing for the Mail, he said:

With Walcott back, Giroud might end up with Andy Carroll syndrome – how on earth does he get back in the team?

A front line of Welbeck, Walcott and Sanchez spells speed and goals, but I’m sure Arsene Wenger would rather have him in his squad than not.

I think he has a point, a very good point as right now going forward we have pace in abundance, something we have seriously lacked over the last few seasons. Yes we’ve had one or two players like Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain who can pick up a bit of speed when needed but all too often, they get where they are going before anyone else and the move is finished. Either that or it’s all been a bit slow, laboured and tight through the middle which has been easy to defend.

Now though, going forward we look quite different, even Santi Cazorla looked like he caught the ‘run a bit faster’ bug against Burnley. He was popping up quite often and shooting, something we don’t do enough off. How he didn’t score on Saturday I don’t know.

In fact how we as a team didn’t score more goals amazes me. We are doing everything right until that final bit of the jigsaw, an inch to the left or the right and we’d be scoring a lot more and that’s something the players need to improve on. They must be more ruthless and clinical in front of goal.

The defensive side to our game continues to be a worry, it has been for many seasons now but again we managed to keep a clean sheet. However, Anderlecht tomorrow, Swansea and Manchester United will offer more of a threat on our goal than Burnley did, that’s for sure.

Back to Olivier Giroud. As much as he might find it difficult to get back into the side, we all know he will. He’s the big target striker who holds the ball up well, offers a target and perhaps, he’s our ‘plan b’. He’s also one of Arsene Wenger’s French favourites so of course he’ll play….

Finally, Arsene Wenger has said he’s surprised how quickly Alexis Sanchez has adapted to life in the Premier League:

I was ready to give him time if he needed it, but he has settled in much quicker than expected.

World class players settle quickly, world class players with pride and passion in their own performance settle quickly, world class players will win football matches and give their all for the team they play for.

Alexis Sanchez has been that kind of player for every team he has played for whether it be club or country.

He was never going to do anything other than settle quickly was he?

Finally, yesterday afternoon, Highbury House regular Goonster shared some dreadfully sad news. His wife Cassie has lost her battle with Cancer and leaves behind a heartbroken husband and 7 month old daughter…..

Our thoughts and prayers are with you Stan at this terribly sad time. May you somehow find the strength to get through……

RIP Cassie….

That’s it for Monday……

 

rico

75 thoughts on “Why Is Arsene Wenger So Surprised? Will Olivier Giroud Struggle To Get Back Into The Team?”

  1. scottfromoz says:

    Morning all.
    Not a good one at all after Stan shared his tragic news with us.
    Mate, there’s nothing any of us can say other than we are all thinking if you, so stay strong mate,

  9. Canadian Gooner says:

    Hello everyone.

    I would have started with my usual opening, but “Good Morning” hardly seems appropriate after hearing of Stan’s tragic news.

    Stan, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

  10. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Good afternoon Munchkins and Chipmunks.

    Goonie……my thoughts are with you. Rip to Cassie. But now look forward and be strong. Brianna needs you and all you can do now is be a role model to her. Cassie would have wanted it that way. You will not see her…..but she will definitely be watching over you.

    ——————————————

    Onto Gunners’ matters. Giroud will play. as simply as that. He will be playing against teams which park the bus. He is a target man, a penalty area man. So he will play. There will be times when he plays up front alone, other times he will be in a combo and other times he will be a sub.

  12. rico says:

    Hi Cg/Devil.

    As long as he doesn’t walk straight back in and displace Welbeck, mind you knowing AW, that’s just what will happen.

  15. Canadian Gooner says:

    After being out for so long, Giroud should/will be eased back into the team like Theo should and will be. Giroud’s strength and physicality will be an advantage against the the physical teams like Stoke RFC.

    He would have been an asset on Saturday when our team were having such a hard time breaking through Burnley’s back line. He poses an aerial threat that none of our other players do, with the possible exception of the BFG; but we don’t want him rampaging forward from defence, except for set plays like corners.

  18. Canadian Gooner says:

    Alexis may just be that key ingredient we have been missing for some time – a natural born leader.

    He leads by example and for a newboy is more than willing to give some of his under performing team mates a few well chosen words, the proverbial ‘kick up the backside’. There is a touch of Tony Adams about his attitude.

  19. Canadian Gooner says:

    Rico – Yes, Alexis offers an aerial threat if given the space to do so. Olivier can rise through and above the crowd though.

    Also, I like the new clean business like look of the House. Keep up the good work.

  21. Adam says:

    The extended family of HH are all hurting today and feeling very sad. Stan is our mate and we have all shared some laughs with him. RIP Cassie.

  23. Canadian Gooner says:

    I’m off to bed for the night and to say a prayer for Stan and his family.

    Talk to you all again soon fellow Gooners. Keep The Faith!

  28. . . . and gawd bless Dennis Bergkamp says:

    My sincerest condolences to you and your daughter Goonster. I don’t know you but that’s what makes sites like these great – they bring people from disparate backgrounds together where the only important thing is friendship and a shared common purpose.

    Stay strong for your baby daughter – she needs you.

  31. Wavy says:

    One gone…..for a while,

    Arsenal’s French midfielder Francis Coquelin has joined Championship side Charlton Athletic on loan for a month.
    The 23-year-old, who has made 43 first-team appearances for the Gunners, returned to the club in the summer having spent the 2013-14 campaign on loan at Freiburg.

    BBC Sport

  35. goonster says:

    I just bought my ticket to Arnhem via Amsterdam. Me and brianna going away for a few weeks
    The change of scenery ll do us a whole lot of good.

  39. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Certainly not then. My deep sympathy goes to Goonster. Terrible news for me…though deep the loss, the Creator will forever strengthen you, especially in taking care of the baby.

  41. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico and the House
    I have wanted to post all day but just did not know what to say.
    Stan cancer has devestated my family so I have a good idea of the pain you have at the moment.
    Be strong mate and give your little Girl plenty of Love.

  42. Tai Emeka Obasi says:

    Sanchez and Walcott will benefit more playing with Giroud than with Welbeck. Giroud is slow but he can hold up play, then put either of Walcott or Sanchez through on goal. He can nod aerial balls onto their accelerating paths. If Giroud plays ahead of Welbeck it won’t be because he’s French…

  44. BrainwashedKev says:

    Gutted to see that Hayden is out for 6 weeks…

    Coquelin to Charlton seems a good move for both player & club

  46. rico says:

    Afternoon folks, Stan, good to see you here and glad you are going home for a while. The pain will be no less but you’ll have family around.. Take care….

  47. Rick says:

    Hi Kev Like you gutted for Isaac, really think he is close to a breakthrough.
    The next u21 games is the1st Dec so if they are saying 6 weeks from day of injury (Oct17) he could be back for that game.

  51. potter says:

    Sometimes you have to wonder about the law of sod. Just as the window of opportunity opens , he gets injured . he must be shaking his head.

  54. Rick says:

    Theo to Lukus,
    ” Lucas if it rained so much that the Pitch was under water what do you think Arsene would do”?
    Lukas to Theo
    “Bring on the SUBS”.
    Night All

  55. BrainwashedKev says:

    Just read that Abou Diaby hasn’t been considered for tonight’s squad as he lacks match practice!!!

    ‘Match practice’ ffs…,

    If I hadn’t been sitting down then I would have fallen over, laughing…

    Lacking match fcuking practice!!!

    You couldn’t make it up…

    The last time Diaby had match practice he was an Auxerre player…

    I feel sorry for him, but this has really gone on long enough…

  57. asiangooner says:

    Hi everyone

    So sorry for your loss stan. May she rest in peace always and may you find the strength to overcome this huge loss. Really dreadful thing this cancer.

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