Blow For Arsenal As French Giants Identify Olivier Giroud As Potential Summer Target
Feb 20, 2017 at 3:02 PM
Arsene Wenger’s 21st year at the Emirates is not going according to plan as his team’s performances since the turn of the year have left them with little chance of silverware this season.
Inconsistent results in the domestic league have pushed them to the 4th place, 10 point off Chelsea at the top of the table while a drubbing at the Allianz Arena will make sure that they do not cross the Round of 16 of the Champions League yet again this season.
This leaves the FA Cup as the only shot at glory for Wenger, with a place in the Champions League next season, the only real target in the domestic league.
However, Wenger will know that his side has what it takes to compete with the best in the business and is also looking to add a few players to the squad at the end of the season.
The manager will also have to make sure that the core of the squad remains at the Emirates but one player who might give Wenger a headache in the summer is French striker Olivier Giroud.
One of the most prolific goalscorers for Arsenal in recent times, Giroud, has not been able to cement a place in the starting XI under Arsene Wenger this season after Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez put in some astonishing and productive performances as a false-9 this season.
This has seen the 30-year striker start just 6 Premier League games and though he remains first choice for cup games, he is having to fight for that place with Danny Welbeck and Lucas Perez and might be tempted to quit.
And reports from Goal (France) reveal that French giants Marseille are interested in his signature at the end of the season.
Giroud joined the north London side in 2012 and has since scored 65 goals in 152 league appearances under Arsene Wenger.
He has 11 goals to his name in all competitions this season, including 5 in 5 at the start of the year and it is understood that OM sports chief Andoni Zubizarreta is planning to bring in a big name striker signing in Giroud.
The French international signed a new contract with the club not so long ago but it is quite possible that Wenger wanted him to put pen to paper to drive his price up.
The manager is still in search of a striker who can walk into the first team at the Emirates and Wenger might be tempted to let Giroud go, to free up some space in the squad.
Do you think Olivier Giroud will move to Marseille this summer?