Arsenal sold Olivier Giroud to Chelsea nearly two years ago.
Olivier Giroud’s decision to leave Arsenal to sign with Chelsea in 2018 has not worked out particularly well.
While Giroud predictably helped the Blues to win the Europa League at Arsenal’s expense, he has not had much to smile about at Chelsea.
This season Giroud has started just one Premier League game for Chelsea. And he has been called on off the bench just three times. It seems a waste of the striker’s talent.
And it also makes you wonder whether Arsenal and Giroud would have been better off if he simply stayed put, instead of leaving in a £18 million move.
It was a decent fee for the Frenchman, but letting him leave might have been costly for the Gunners.
Giroud was a unique option in their attack, adding a physical presence which upset defences, particularly late in games.
It was easy to lose count of the late equalisers or winners Giroud helped Arsenal to and earn the team points.
That is an element Arsenal are lacking at present.
Draws against Manchester United, Crystal Palace and Wolves were the type of matches Giroud would have been able to turn into wins.
Gabriel Martinelli might turn into a Premier League matchwinner, but he’s not quite there yet.
Giroud and Arsenal might both have been better off right now if he had simply stayed.
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