Ian Wright is tired of Arsenal supporters lambasting Olivier Giroud and has hit out at the France international’s critics.
Giroud was blasted by fans during and after the 1-1 draw against local rivals Tottenham on Sunday after he missed several decent opportunities to score.
Celebrity Arsenal fan Piers Morgan was particularly vocal with his criticism of Giroud on Twitter, describing him at one point as a “pathetic drama queen”. But Wright isn’t in agreement with the French striker’s haters.
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"Olivier Giroud has taken so much stick it's a wonder he isn't black and blue," Wright told The Sun. "His critics were at it again on Sunday after he missed a couple of great chances in Arsenal's 1-1 draw with Tottenham.
"Forget all that talk of this being the Gunners' best chance in years of winning the title, they said, with Giroud leading the line they haven't got a prayer. Yes, the Frenchman didn't have his finest hour against Spurs. But to put all the blame at his door is unfair and wrong.
"If Arsenal do see their title hopes go up in smoke again this season, it won't be down to the fact that Giroud is up front."
Arsenal fans would prefer a better striker
Giroud has averaged a goal roughly every three games since arriving at Arsenal from Montpellier in the summer - a relatively decent return for the Gunners’ £9.6 million investment.
However, there are fans who believe Arsenal require a more clinical goalscorer in order to end their long wait for the Premier League title.
Giroud has a habit of missing the odd gilt-edged chance, and the fact he has never scored more than 16 goals in a single Premier League campaign says a lot about his overall class.
Karim Benzema would have been ideal
A good striker but not a great striker, Giroud must have feared he would be replaced over the summer. But despite the links with Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, Arsene Wenger opted to settle for what he already had.
Additional competition has been provided by Theo Walcott, who tends to score when he starts, but it would be tough to argue that either forward belongs in the world-class category.
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