The stats that prove Loic Remy would be a vital addition for Arsenal

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We compare the stats of Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud and his France teammate Loic Remy, who has been linked to the Gunners recently.

As Arsenal continue to look for forward additions, one name that refuses to go away is QPR forward Loic Remy.

The French international enjoyed an outstanding loan spell at Newcastle United this year, netting 14 goals in 26 games, and is unsurprisingly being linked with a whole host of Champions League clubs as a result.

But if Remy moves to Arsenal, will he be as a replacement for fellow Frenchman Olivier Giroud, or as backup?

Both players netted in France’s 4-0 win over Norway this week, and are heading to Brazil this summer, so below we look at the statistics from the Premier League season just gone to compare the two 27-year-olds.

The above information proves that Remy is a much more prolific goalscorer than Giroud, scoring just 2 less than the former Montpellier man despite playing 10 games fewer. The former Newcastle loanee also has a much more impressive ratio of on target attempts than his fellow Frenchman. One area Giroud does excel in is setting up those around him to find the net, with a decent 8 assists compared to Remy’s 3.

In these stats we can see that Remy is much more able to beat his man (won contest), which is perhaps why he has more on target scoring attempts – it is a key aspect of a striker’s game to be able to beat your marker and open up a shooting chance. Giroud is a much more physical player, winning more duels and more balls in the air.

At times this season Arsenal lacked pace to get behind the opposition defence. This is one of the strengths of Remy whose searing speed would inevitably see him taking advantage of Ozil, Wilshere and Cazorla through balls to be left through on goal. Giroud’s game is more about holding the ball up and bringing others into the game, which results in a lesser goal threat as a striker but the possibility for goals shared around the team.

In short, the two players would offer differing attacking threats, both of value. Having someone like Remy in the ranks may help against the top level sides whose defences may push up more, giving someone like the QPR forward plenty of space to run into to.