With Everton And West Ham Interested In Him, Where Should Olivier Giroud Go?
Olivier Giroud has become a cult favourite as a ‘super-sub’ at Arsenal lately, owing to the way he scores goals to rescue Arsenal from the most sticky situations. His recent display against Southampton was further proof to substantiate his importance for the club but the fans may not get to enjoy his impact on a long-term basis. If reports are to be believed, Giroud could either be on his way to join West Ham United or Everton in January and if that happens in a situation like this, it will come as a major loss for the Gunners.
However, the rate at which he has been performing is spectacular and it will be interesting to see how he fares in a regular starting role. The player has ample Premier League experience with Arsenal and has been trained by Arsene Wenger, making him quite an attractive proposition. His career growth has been stunted by a lot of ups and downs but he has continued to be loyal to his club.
That said, it might be time for him to move on and make a mark for himself in order to develop his trade further. With interest stemming from both West Ham and Everton, Giroud, who has 73 Premier League goals to his name and currently earns £100,000-a-week, will have an important decision to make. Both clubs can offer him a unique set of opportunities and starting roles.
At Everton, for example, Giroud will have a massive void to fill. The Toffees have been struggling ever since Romelu Lukaku left the club to join Manchester United. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has looked impressive in their recent couple of games but the lack of a recognised option up front cannot be a good thing for a club staging a comeback under a new manager. Hence, there is a lot of value Giroud could add at Goodison Park. He could become their sole striker with Calvert-Lewin as a deputy and could do wonders for their attack and elevate their overall performances further.
The situation at West Ham is more or less similar. Andy Carroll has been in and out of the team, which has left the Hammers starving for options up front. With Manuel Lanzini’s creative plays, there is a lot Giroud could do at the club. In terms of playing style, he is likely to fit into their system since he is as strong as Carroll in the air while also having a killer goal-scoring ability.
Moreover, much like Everton, West Ham are also in a transition phase under new manager David Moyes. Their recent 1-0 win against Chelsea and the Hammers’ strong performance against Giroud’s current club, Arsenal, would have been more than encouraging for the Frenchman to consider moving to the club.
However, when it comes to Giroud’s personal ambition, he is likely to get a better platform at Everton. They are higher up the table than the Hammers and are not facing the danger of relegation at the moment. So Giroud would be better off at Everton than West Ham United.