Nicosia Gooner
11-24-2012, 09:13 AM
By John Cross
Route fun! Wenger admits Arsenal are now happy to boot it up to Giroud
23 Nov 2012 22:00
Arrival of 6ft 4in "typically English" striker means Gunners can do more than pretty passing PLUS Lambert not worried Villa are in bottom three
Arsene Wenger reckons France striker Olivier Giroud is the most English centre-forward he has ever signed.
Arsenal boss Wenger says his in-form countryman is the best header of the ball he has had in his 16 years at the Gunners, has “fighting” spirit and is now proving his worth as a top-class forward.
Giroud took his time to settle following a summer move from Montpellier, but the 6ft 4in striker has now chalked up six assists and seven goals.
He goes to Aston Villa for Saturday's tea-time game with Wenger admitting that Arsenal are now trying to hit high balls into the box rather than rely on the clever passing football that's been their trademark for years.
Wenger said of Giroud: “He is typically English. I believe he has the characteristics of a centre-forward I like in England.
“He is one the best headers, yes. Thierry Henry was not a specialist in the air, Dennis Bergkamp not, Kanu not, Nicolas Anelka not. Ian Wright was not a specialist in the air. Bendtner was good in the air, but didn’t play enough games.
“We have adapted to his [Giroud's] strengths. When you cross the ball, you still think you have a chance to win the header whereas before it was a counter-attack chance!
“I believe he still has some work to do. But he has complete commitment, capability to win balls in the air and a fighting attitude.
“He convinces you about something more than just his game. His overall attitude, he is a fighter, he is ready to have a go and that he is genuine.
“You don’t cheat people on that, people smell that in the stands. That’s why I feel he is accepted, not just cos of his game but he is really genuinely committed on the pitch.”
Giroud took time to settle in England after his 12m move, missing good chances and not scoring until his seventh appearance - against League One side Coventry in the Capital One Cup.
But the Frenchman is now a favourite among the Arsenal fans and Wenger believes he can maintain a hot streak that has seen him net four goals in four games.
Wenger admitted: “It took time to settle. You tell them scoring the first goal is not important but they know it’s important to score so you don’t try to make them feel guilty but they still do. You can’t change that.
“According to our studies, it comes in cycles. When some guys don’t score for three, four or maybe five games they become nervous. If it’s more than five they will be questioned and they know that as well.
“People say, ‘Okay, he works hard, but when does he score a goal?’ When they start to score it becomes completely natural for them.”
Wenger clearly rates Giroud highly, but has moved to bring back club legend Henry amid lingering doubts about whether there are enough goals in the rest of the team.
Arsenal’s defeat at Norwich - when Mikel Arteta’s late shot was the only effort they managed on target - was the day when Wenger first considered signing Henry for a THIRD time.
Wenger wants a back-up striker and strong dressing-room spirit, and the draw at Schalke - when they threw away a two goal lead - was the game when he made up his mind to re-sign the 35-year-old.
Henry had mixed fortunes last winter during a loan spell from New York Red Bulls though, and Arsenal have been offered a long list of other strikers ahead of the winter transfer window.
Adrian Lopez of Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Llorente and Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - who has just six months left on his current deal so could be available at a cut-price fee in January - are all potential targets.
Route fun! Wenger admits Arsenal are now happy to boot it up to Giroud
23 Nov 2012 22:00
Arrival of 6ft 4in "typically English" striker means Gunners can do more than pretty passing PLUS Lambert not worried Villa are in bottom three
Arsene Wenger reckons France striker Olivier Giroud is the most English centre-forward he has ever signed.
Arsenal boss Wenger says his in-form countryman is the best header of the ball he has had in his 16 years at the Gunners, has “fighting” spirit and is now proving his worth as a top-class forward.
Giroud took his time to settle following a summer move from Montpellier, but the 6ft 4in striker has now chalked up six assists and seven goals.
He goes to Aston Villa for Saturday's tea-time game with Wenger admitting that Arsenal are now trying to hit high balls into the box rather than rely on the clever passing football that's been their trademark for years.
Wenger said of Giroud: “He is typically English. I believe he has the characteristics of a centre-forward I like in England.
“He is one the best headers, yes. Thierry Henry was not a specialist in the air, Dennis Bergkamp not, Kanu not, Nicolas Anelka not. Ian Wright was not a specialist in the air. Bendtner was good in the air, but didn’t play enough games.
“We have adapted to his [Giroud's] strengths. When you cross the ball, you still think you have a chance to win the header whereas before it was a counter-attack chance!
“I believe he still has some work to do. But he has complete commitment, capability to win balls in the air and a fighting attitude.
“He convinces you about something more than just his game. His overall attitude, he is a fighter, he is ready to have a go and that he is genuine.
“You don’t cheat people on that, people smell that in the stands. That’s why I feel he is accepted, not just cos of his game but he is really genuinely committed on the pitch.”
Giroud took time to settle in England after his 12m move, missing good chances and not scoring until his seventh appearance - against League One side Coventry in the Capital One Cup.
But the Frenchman is now a favourite among the Arsenal fans and Wenger believes he can maintain a hot streak that has seen him net four goals in four games.
Wenger admitted: “It took time to settle. You tell them scoring the first goal is not important but they know it’s important to score so you don’t try to make them feel guilty but they still do. You can’t change that.
“According to our studies, it comes in cycles. When some guys don’t score for three, four or maybe five games they become nervous. If it’s more than five they will be questioned and they know that as well.
“People say, ‘Okay, he works hard, but when does he score a goal?’ When they start to score it becomes completely natural for them.”
Wenger clearly rates Giroud highly, but has moved to bring back club legend Henry amid lingering doubts about whether there are enough goals in the rest of the team.
Arsenal’s defeat at Norwich - when Mikel Arteta’s late shot was the only effort they managed on target - was the day when Wenger first considered signing Henry for a THIRD time.
Wenger wants a back-up striker and strong dressing-room spirit, and the draw at Schalke - when they threw away a two goal lead - was the game when he made up his mind to re-sign the 35-year-old.
Henry had mixed fortunes last winter during a loan spell from New York Red Bulls though, and Arsenal have been offered a long list of other strikers ahead of the winter transfer window.
Adrian Lopez of Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Llorente and Schalke's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar - who has just six months left on his current deal so could be available at a cut-price fee in January - are all potential targets.