‘Why did Arsenal let him go’: Michael Owen questions £18m player linked with Spurs

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Michael Owen has questioned on Premier League Productions why Arsenal let Tottenham and West Ham-linked hitman Olivier Giroud go.

The Premier League winner also questioned whether he has the qualities to help a team win the title.

During Giroud’s career, he has played for the likes of Arsenal before moving to Chelsea for £18 million in 2018 [BBC Sport] and he could now potentially add another London club to his list.

Italian outlet Calciomercato have claimed that a host of clubs, including Tottenham, West Ham, PSG and Inter are keen on the Frenchman’s services.

Former England striker Owen shared his thoughts on Giroud as a player and the feeling that he is an ‘underrated’ figure.

“He is an all-round player,” said Owen. “He doesn’t set your pulse racing because he hasn’t got electric pace. He doesn’t t do the exciting thing by beating five players and smack it into the top corner.

“But he’s a very, very functional player that adds so much to the team. He can hold the ball up. You can bounce off him. He scores goals. He’s underrated in terms of the movement.

“Why isn’t he the number one choice as centre-forward? Well, we have been asking that for many, many years. I do like him. In fact, I think he’s brilliant. But if you play him every week can you go and win the league?

“He has been around ten odd years. Why did Arsenal let him go? Why have Chelsea rarely played him? He was close to leaving a season or so ago because there were the Euros at the end. A lot of top managers haven’t started him consistently. But we are talking elite to win the Premier League.”

Every January, it seems as though Giroud’s future is up in the air, but then he would turn up by producing his best performances of the season as the window is about to re-open or has been re-opened.

Added with that, he is starting to get his engine at Stamford Bridge started once again, and with the Euros looming, Giroud will be well aware that he needs minutes under his belt.

If he doesn’t earn those regular minutes then leaving Chelsea might be the best option, but it would be a surprise to see Spurs sign him up, although, he would be a seriously good addition to those at West Ham.