COMMENT: The Frenchman took his tally to 17 goals in 26 games of an injury interrupted season as Arsenal escaped Tyneside with a narrow but invaluable victory
He will never possess Ian Wright’s natural goalscoring instinct, Robin van Persie’s eye for the spectacular or Thierry Henry’s grace, but Olivier Giroud is proving as valuable to the Arsenal cause as any of those past heroes.
Giroud’s limitations are obvious and amplified by the qualities that trio exhibited during their goal-laden careers. But the deeply un-Arsenal attributes he boasts have turned him from cumbersome liability to match-winning asset.
He has feasted on Newcastle in the past and took his tally to eight goals in six games against fearful opponents who offered fragile resistance on the occasions they summoned the courage to compete.
The Frenchman’s more agricultural attributes were decisive on an afternoon where three points were a must for an Arsenal side whose grip on third place is hardly vice like, despite their recent upturn.
Led by Santi Cazorla, captain for the afternoon, Arsenal looked likely to carve Newcastle apart in the opening stages with the speed and invention of Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck looking the most obvious route to goal.
As it transpired, for all the pretty patterns weaved by Arsenal’s creative sparks, two set-pieces proved the difference – Giroud diverting Welbeck’s glancing header past Tim Krul with an instinctive extension of his leg, before holding off the attentions of Mike Williamson and planting a header past the Dutchman without his feet leaving the ground.
Arsenal were forced to weather the unlikeliest of second-half storms as Newcastle belatedly discovered their appetite for a scrap once Moussa Sissoko had volleyed them back into the contest shortly after the interval.
Giroud fought hard, relishing the wrestling match with Williamson, leading from the front and dropping deep to help his defence when necessary. It was the sort of selfless performance that has typified Giroud’s career to date. Even when chances went astray his work rate and commitment to the cause were never in question.
Now, with confidence at career-high levels, the goals flow with increasing regularity. The brace against Newcastle took his tally to 17 in 26 games in all competitions this season - it’s the sort of strike rate that makes you wonder what might have been had he not missed 15 games with a broken ankle.
That unfortunate injury was supposed to afford Welbeck the chance to cement his role in the side as a central striker but, a hat-trick against Galatasaray aside, he rarely convinced and has been shunted back to the flank since Giroud’s return.
Alexis, who on current form will soon be usurped as Arsenal’s top goalscorer this season, has also struggled on the rare occasions he has been asked to the lead the line. Theo Walcott, meanwhile, cannot get in the team at present, let alone convince the manager he can become a full-time centre forward.
Lukas Podolski, Yaya Sanogo and Joel Campbell were all loaned in January as Wenger opted to put all his striking eggs in one Giroud-shaped basket.
Goals at the Etihad Stadium and Anfield earlier this season as well as thumping consolation against Manchester United have begun to help dispel the notion he’s a mere flat-track bully.
A Champions League meltdown against Monaco has been quickly been forgotten on the back of six goals in his last six games. Incapable to invaluable – Arsenal simply cannot afford to be without him.
