Why Arsenal’s modern-day Giroud must hand in a transfer request

Olivier Giroud returned to the Emirates Stadium this week as Lille played Arsenal in the Champions League.

The Frenchman, who won two FA Cups with the Gunners, is remembered fondly in these parts and is certainly well-liked by Mikel Arteta.

REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

The striker and the manager were once teammates and while they were adversaries for a night in north London on Tuesday, it was Arteta who had the last laugh as they shared a warm embrace on the pitch at full-time.

Giroud only appeared as a late substitute and received warm applause from the home fans.

However, did he deserve that sort of reception? Giroud’s career at Arsenal was certainly a rollercoaster.

What is Giroud’s legacy at Arsenal?

Giroud’s footballing story is something from a picture book. Plucked from obscurity in France by Arsenal, the Frenchman joined from Montpellier in 2012 to the tune of just £12m.

Was this the player Arsène Wenger needed to end the club’s trophy drought? Well, on first glance, no.

Giroud endured a rough ride at the start of his adventure in London. It took the tall centre-forward seven league games to finally score his first goal for the club and he ultimately ended his debut campaign with just 11 strikes to his name in the Premier League.

But, Giroud had his moments. Eventually, he did play a key role in ending that long, old trophy drought for Arsenal. He didn’t score in the 2014 FA Cup final, but he was the man to assist Aaron Ramsey’s winner in extra time.

The French superstar certainly had his moments. That scorpion kick goal, which to this day he still intends he meant, is one of the finest strikes of the Emirates era.

Once all was said and done, he departed having scored 105 goals. Only 15 players in the club’s history have scored more goals. In that regard, he should be counted as a cult hero.

To some he is, but his legacy was tainted when he joined Chelsea. He was pivotal as the Blues defeated Unai Emery’s side in Baku to win the Europa League and then on the team bus after the game he said “thank you Arsenal” as he lifted the trophy.

As a result, some were hardly pleased to see him back in N5 on Tuesday night. Some fans were hardly pleased to see some of their own starting XI either.

Why it’s time for Giroud 2.0 to leave Arsenal

Say what you like about Giroud but he would be the perfect striker in the modern-era for this Arteta team.

Take Kai Havertz, for instance. He’s rather like Giroud in his stature and his ability to hold the ball up. His positioning, movement and tactical awareness is first class, much like the Frenchman in his prime.

REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Yet, it is not Havertz who most resembles Giroud right now; it is Viktor Gyokeres.

Signed from Sporting CP for £63m in the summer of 2025, much was expected from the big Swede. This was the elite centre-forward Arsenal had been craving to take them to the next level. So they thought, anyway.

Sadly, in a similar way to Giroud, he has become a marmite figure. Gyokeres was the club’s leading goalscorer last term with 21 in all competitions.

His efforts should be remembered fondly, particularly as the Gunners ended a two-decade wait to finally win the Premier League.

Yet, Gyokeres’ performances have been called into question. He had his critics in 2025/26 but they are back with a vengeance in 2026/27. He really does feel like the modern-day Giroud.

In the Wenger era, the Swede’s pace, power and finishing ability are exactly what Arsenal could have done with. They played a lovely brand of football that was free-flowing and full of life.

Mikel Arteta’s side does play some eye-catching football but it doesn’t come with enormous regularity. It’s more structured, it’s more organised and it can be mind-numbingly patient. For Gyokeres, that is no good. He feeds on chaos; he feeds on balls in behind.

So, like Giroud, it would appear he is playing the wrong era. Very few can question the 28-year-old’s goalscoring ability but he simply doesn’t suit the way Arsenal play in the present day.

That much was summed up against Lille on Tuesday night. The striker had just 12 touches of the ball and was starved of any sort of chance creation.

Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Mikel Merino created three key passes between them. Madueke, in particular, was distinctly poor. He attempted 15 crosses but only one of them found a teammate.

Is it any surprise Gyokeres left the field just after the hour mark having failed to have a shot?

Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs

As frustrating as that is for the player, it is becoming a common occurrence now. When the Sweden international received a rare start against Napoli during the opening week of the Champions League, he did not have a shot in that tie either.

So, with Arsenal clearly on the lookout for a better striker – they wanted Julian Alvarez in the summer – Gyokeres should be banging down the door and asking to leave in January. Despite a Premier League trophy and a Champions League final, this has not been a happy marriage.