Can this Arsenal transfer target make a big impression in the Premier League?

With the news this week that Arsenal are close to agreeing a deal for Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud, fans will be anticipating a new-look front-line come the start of the 2012/13 league season. Expected to join fellow new arrival Lukas Podolski this summer, Giroud will be looking to continue the form that saw his side capture the Ligue 1 title last season. However, as with any newcomer to the Premier League, goals may be hard to come by in a league season that will be littered with attacking talent.

Amidst the contract concerns and rumours surrounding Robin van Persie, Wenger will be keen to secure an improved attacking line-up for the start of the new campaign. At the moment, this looks likely to be Giroud, Podolski and RVP potentially starting as an attacking trio. With Giroud finishing last season as top scorer in Ligue 1 with 21 goals, and 9 assists to his name, you can’t really argue with the quality that Arsenal could see lead their line. However, as we saw with Marouane Chamakh, it can be difficult to establish yourself in a team challenging for a top four finish in one the the most competitive leagues in Europe.

In a deal reportedly worth around £12million, Arsenal would surely be happy that they have value for money in a player that has displayed good all round quality on the pitch over the course of a season. He is currently on international duty at Euro 2012 with France, albeit only featuring briefly in a 10 minute cameo appearance against Ukraine. At 25 years of age, he was considered as having the potential to be one of the surprise stars at the European Championships, but with the impressive form of Karim Benzema, it looks unlikely that he will get to display his talents this summer.

Arsene Wenger has apparently been an admirer of Giroud’s for a while now, and the French striker has shown great development and maturity recently, leading the line of a relatively small club and taking them on to finishing as French Champions. He was always going to be linked with a move away after what he’s achieved, but you can see promise in his all-round game, and elements of his character as well as his technical abilities that would suggest he can suit Premier League football.

Although predominantly left footed, Giroud has proven he is adept with both feet. He has a very decent shot on him and will trouble goalkeepers in the Premiership, even without the time and space he has necessarily enjoyed in Ligue 1. Not only this, he is a big physical presence, and is able to hold the ball up whilst bringing others into play. This is something that could be especially useful to Arsenal in the way they try and involve their attacking players in forward moves with the ball. Giroud’s heading ability is also a major threat, not only as he is 6ft 3″, but he has the uncanny ability to find a gap in the box and stoop or manoeuvre himself into positions to get onto the end of crosses.

There’s not much doubt in my mind that this could be a quality signing for Arsenal. Along with the power of Podolski, their front line will scare opposition defences. If they can keep hold of Van Persie for at least another season, then it looks like they have a full compliment of technical and physical ability to really challenge for a decent finish in the Premier League. The difference may be next season that they can kill off smaller teams and finish off the chances they manufacture, without getting frustrated in front of goal and without isolating one man up front.

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