By Chris Wright
“I just think you don’t win enough second balls, sunshine”
The svelte Gallic falcon that is Olivier Giroud has politely requested a “man-to-man talk” with Thierry Henry to manfully and respectfully discuss the Arsenal legend’s criticism of his fellow countryman during the latter half of last season.
Back in April, Henry asserted that Arsenal wouldn’t be able to win a Premier League title without a better striker leading their line – criticism Giroud took fairly personally seeing as he was Arsenal’s sole line-leading striker at the time.
Henry proclaimed that the Gunners were still in need of a “top quality striker” if they had any designs on winning the league again.
“I think Giroud is doing extremely well. But can you win the league with him? I wouldn’t think so,” the Frenchman posited from atop his Sky Sports punditry pedestal.
“He does a job, and he does it ever so well, but you can’t win the league [with him up front].”
The quip actually led Arsene Wenger to respectfully and politely point out that Henry himself received very similar criticism during his early Arsenal days.
Anyway, it’s taken four months but Giroud has finally responded, admitting that he’d like to sit down with Henry and talk it out, politely and respectfully, like real men.
“I know Thierry and I knew what he wanted to mean. If I see him we will have a conversation between two men.
“I’m not angry against him but it’s true that I didn’t understand at first. But it’s alright. I’m not going to be upset about that. I’m sleeping well and as long as my family is OK that’s the main thing. It doesn’t affect me too much.
“To be honest, when you are a footballer you don’t have to listen to people commenting about your performance.
“The main thing is not to have any doubt when you miss a chance or miss a game. The best thing is to forget about the comments straight away and to keep the head up and not let it affect your qualities.”
With 58 goals in three seasons at Arsenal, we honestly don’t know what the issue with Giroud is supposed to be. He’s great in the air, his touch is cultured, his finishing is often truly superb, he links play well, holds it up like a champ and scores goals.
Quel est le problème?