Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker has hailed the impact striker Olivier Giroud has on the squad and the German centre-back believes the Frenchman is vital to the way The Gunners play.
Giroud, who signed for the club last Summer from Montpellier, managed to score 17-goals in all competitions last season, and he has only got better this campaign, already scoring six times.
However at the weekend, it was his creative play that caught the eye of many as he turned provider for two of the four goals they scored.
“He is vital for us, and fits in completely to what we are doing,” Mertesacker told the official matchday programme.
“He’s a tall guy but technically well educated, and the important thing is that we can play on the ground with him but, if there is pressure on us, we can put the ball in the air and he can hold it in a way that I’ve never seen.
“You can use him in different positions and angles; at the moment he is the one who fits the best up front. If he doesn’t score, he’ll make assists.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
