BETTER than Giroud! Sanogo outclassed teammate’s best performances of the season

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Yaya Sanogo shone for Arsenal against Bayern Munich in difficult circumstances, here’s two areas where he was better than Olivier Giroud.

Olivier Giroud is not enjoying a good time of it at the moment, or at least not any more – and won’t be amused to learn his midweek replacement actually outperformed even his best games this season in a couple of areas.

Yaya Sanogo, making only his second start for the club, may not have scored – but his efforts throughout the difficult fixture with Bayern Munich cannot be faulted.

With his supply for goalscoring chances limited, barring an early effort from which he forced Manuel Neuer into an impressive reaction save, there were at least areas of his game which did shine through against the Germans.

Aerial Ability

– Yaya Sanogo won 10 aerial duels against Bayern Munich.

* This was a Champions League record for 2013/14, more than any player in any game.

* The figure eclipses Olivier Giroud’s personal best for the season in any match. His top 10 can be seen below:

Interceptions

– Yaya Sanogo made three interceptions against Bayern as he worked to get his team back in the game.

* This figure is higher than any Arsenal striker has made this season. In fact Giroud has only made more than one interception on one occasion, and then not as high as Sanogo’s tally.

While aerial duels and goals do not make for a win, it’s hard to put together any kind of persuasive argument that barring being able to take the penalty instead of Ozil; Giroud would have done a better job than the youngster.

Sanogo has shown enough promise to argue that he should be handed a role against Sunderland at the weekend, a game where he should see far more of the ball, and ideally score his first goal in an Arsenal shirt.

image: © joncandy