Wenger: Giroud ‘accepts’ sub role, but ‘not well’
Date published: Saturday 31st December 2016 11:36
Arsene Wenger admits that Olivier Giroud is struggling to accept his new role as Arsenal’s substitute striker.
The Frenchman finally started his first Premier League game of the season on Boxing Day against West Brom and responded with his fourth league goal of the season, making him our early winner.
Olivier Giroud has now scored 18 headed league goals since 2013/14; only Cristiano Ronaldo (22) has scored more in Europe's top 5 leagues. pic.twitter.com/GmOwEnMg7j
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 26, 2016
Wenger is fulsome in his praise for Giroud, telling Sky Sports: “For me in my head he is a regular player, in his head he is a regular player, so when he doesn’t play of course he is frustrated, but if he can still help the squad.
“He has different qualities from other strikers, and he has shown that again against West Brom that he is a fighter, a winner, and he uses his body well to bring other people in, and sometimes with his feet, sometimes with his head.
“So overall, when I think we need his qualities we play him. He accepts that, not well, but we are in a competitive world and unfortunately I can only start 11 players.”
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