Dubbed, that leave me with a

I have no problem to put Bendtner, Walcott, Pod upfront instead of OG. If you think so you can even put the cleaning lady upfront.

The only thing I said is you have to convince Wenger to do so. So why do you criticise me on every occasion?

I have no problem to put Bendtner, Walcott, Pod upfront instead of OG. If you think so you can even put the cleaning lady upfront.
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Walcott > Bendnter > Gunnersauras > Cleaning lady > Giroud.

Walcott had a great game against Newcastle, a decent one against Reading and a few really poor performances around January that saw the experiment as a striker discarded.

He lacks the natural movement and the physical and technical attributes of a striker. He finds more space from his diagonal runs from the wings that he would as a CF. Walcott on the wings can actually get the best out of Giroud and Giroud's link-up play can get the best out of Theo. Which makes the experiment simply needless.

Ozil does need to play alongside pace, but I don't see why Walcott playing down the flanks doesn't satisfy that.

I do agree that we should look to sign a pacey option to give Giroud some competition and add to the squad depth as a whole, but I think we have to be appreciate all that Giroud brings to the team in terms of aerial presence and hold/link-up play.

Giroud has the 6th highest number of aerial duel wins in the league this season, which is a stat made even more impressive by the fact we're renowned for preferring a short passing game.
Not only does this help provide an outlet for when we need to relieve pressure, it also gives us much needed additional defensive solidity at set-pieces. We have a relatively short - or at least weak aerially - team, particularly with the recent injury to Sagna, so Giroud's ability to help defend balls into the box is very important.

But it's not just his ability in the air; his one and two touch link-up play with the ball at his feet is also very good. In fact, according to 'whoscored' he has the second highest number of accurate through balls per game, and in terms of strikers, the 6th highest number of key passes per game.

He may be a little lacking in terms of goals at the moment, but let's not forget that Giroud was playing brilliantly and scoring regularly alongside Walcott prior to the Englishman's injury, and I'm sure that with Walcott back in the frame, we'll see Giroud's form begin to pick back up.

"He lacks the natural movement and the physical and technical attributes of a striker. He finds more space from his diagonal runs from the wings that he would as a CF. Walcott on the wings can actually get the best out of Giroud and Giroud's link-up play can get the best out of Theo. Which makes the experiment simply needless."

Completely agree

^And with TheSkins

Theo's best position is wide. Don't think anyone disagrees with that?

Dastu
Those stats are pointless. Even when Giroud wins headers his link up play and passing is sloppy and inconsistent.

I just feel that we need to try something different up front.

I can't stand these WhoScored stats.

I can't stand these WhoScored stats.

Then take that. Top of the league

"Theo's best position is wide. Don't think anyone disagrees with that?"

Agreed But I have actually seen a number of people on these forums suggest that Walcott needs to be played up-front to realise his potential.

"I can't stand these WhoScored stats."

Stats don't tell the whole story, and my judgement of Giroud is made pretty much entirely on what we see from him on the field; but such judgements are subjective, so sometimes it can be useful to use some objective measures to help corroborate your belief.

Dubbed, I can see what you are saying, and I think Giroud has been a little profligate as of late. However, I do believe a key reason for this has been the absence of Walcott in recent times.
Giroud likes to drop-off the front-line and play-on the half-turn, which is a style that really demands having someone running off of you.
Without Walcott, we've been completely bereft of pace and movement in the attacking third, which is perhaps part of the reason why much of Giroud's link-up play has been so fruitless.

Giroud didn't have the best of games against City - but I still believe he was a vital outlet in the final third, even if he wasn't at his best - even with Walcott alongside him, but to be fair, City away really could be the hardest fixture we'll play all year - certainly in the league.

I'm really interested in seeing how the likes of Ozil, Giroud, and Walcott link-up over the next few games.
If Giroud is still underperforming, then hopefully a suitable replacement will be bought in January.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

mandingo

calm down a bit. Not good for your health.

Yeah. I'm cool bruv. Braaap brap.

Olivier Giroud is class (finishing aside)

May as well say Almunia is class, catching aside.

I just feel that we need to try something different up front
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I don't think many would debate that, we need another type of centre forward, one that offers a different skillset to Giroud. Walcott isn't the answer though. I just don't understand why you'd want to move our most productive player from his best position, to one that he doesn't perform well in and clearly isn't suited to. Playing as a lone forward, Theo just wouldn't get the time or space that he needs to run at, and get in behind defences. And he doesn't have the ability to link up play at the level that we need our centre forward to. Where as on the right, playing off a Giroud gives him more of that, he's more effective making diagonal runs in behind from out wide, much like Henry used to do.

It just seems like an irrational idea to me, simply because people are not happy with Giroud and would just take anyone else ahead of him. It wouldn't work for Walcott, or more importantly, the team. I'd rather start a natural centre forward like Bendtner (who tbf looked impressive against City, worthy of a start perhaps) everyday ahead of Theo or Poldi. They're better out wide where they can get more space and make better runs to get in behind and score/create.

How many games did Walcott actually play as a striker?

There were not many.

At the moment I would keep Walcott out wide but I can definitely see him playing as a central striker soon.

Fans overrate hold up play and physically as key ingredients for a striker.

Bottom line is who will score more goals playing as a central striker, giroud or Walcott?

May as well say Almunia is class, catching aside.

Actually he is doing a good job at Watford

I would give Pod a run at some point but I can see Walcott being up front sooner than people think.

His goals are so natural and he is very clinical when one on one.

He has the attributes, just needs to get stronger

Championship standard is where he belongs.

I think giroud should now improve with Theo back in the team.

However, if he goes AWOL against Chelsea than questions will seriously be asked

I agree theo needs to be a bit stronger. Perhaps he should take the supplements spurs seem to feed their players with.

Bottom line is who will score more goals playing as a central striker, giroud or Walcott?

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No, that's not the bottom line. The bottom line is, will the team score more goals and/or win more games with Giroud up front and Walcott on the right or with Walcott up front and someone else on the right?

No, that's not the bottom line. The bottom line is, will the team score more goals and/or win more games with Giroud up front and Walcott on the right or with Walcott up front and someone else on the right?
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Exactly this. And besides, I can't see Walcott performing better through the middle than he is out wide.