Everton have had a stellar summer transfer window, though it hasn’t quite reflected in the results just yet. Their struggles in front of goal need to be attended and it seems Ronald Koeman is keen to snap up Olivier Giroud from Arsenal.
The Toffees were in pursuit of the Arsenal striker who chose to stay and fight for his place. However, Everton might come knocking once again in the January transfer window with a fresh offer in excess of £40 million for the services of the Frenchman.
Olivier Giroud has achieved cult status at Arsenal, only one shy of a century of goals for the Gunners. He has scored some very important and well-taken goals that has endeared him to the Arsenal faithful. He has had his doubters during his time in England but has managed to prove them wrong time and again. He fit seamlessly into Arsenal’s style of play with dazzling flicks and neat one-touch football. Arsenal’s signing of Alexandre Lacazette has pushed him down the pecking order, but he still holds an important place in Arsenal’s plans this season.
The Frenchman did admit he considered leaving the club following the signing of Lacazette, fearing limited chances this season. The striker chose to stay, but chances have come far and few between for the Frenchman’s liking and he might be tempted to make a switch in January.
Giroud, aged 30, has to have regular football if he is still to be in contention for a spot in France’s team for the 2018 World Cup. This might be playing in the back of his head as he decides where to spend his future in the coming months.
But, what would that mean to Arsenal Football Club?
Financially, £40 million for a 30-year-old is a great piece of transfer business. With the signing of Lacazette, Arsenal seem to have set up differently than recent times. Arsene has preferred Lacazette’s pace over Giroud’s physicality and holdup play, clearly signalling a shift in ideology for this season. But with Lacazette still finding his feet in the Premier League, Arsenal have had to look up to Giroud for the answers in front of goal. One can only hope for Arsenal’s record signing to find his goalscoring touch soon, but Giroud was a more than able alternative to Lacazette. His aerial presence even gave Arsenal the much-required height in defending set pieces, something they will sorely miss given how physical the league has become.
Should Arsene go for a physical option up front in replacing Olivier Giroud? Let’s not forget, Alexis Sanchez is a pretty decent option up front, and Arsenal also have Danny Welbeck who can play as a striker as well. So they are not short of options up front; but with Giroud’s departure, they lack a different dimension in attack which could have helped them unlock the meaner of the defences in the Premier League.
