Arsène Wenger believes Olivier Giroud is a player transformed from the one he signed in 2012 after the striker’s two goals sent Arsenal into the FA Cup sixth round at the expense of a surprisingly lacklustre Middlesbrough.
The former Montpellier forward has endured a season interrupted first by a broken leg in August and then by suspension following his sending off against QPR on Boxing Day, but the goals against Boro took his tally into double figures for the campaign. More than that he has improved his work-rate and added to his game a rugged edge that befits a striker of his 6ft 4in frame.
“Giroud is today a different player to the guy that arrived here,” said the Arsenal manager. “He understands what top level football demands – he works with a great concentration in training and he has improved in his mobility tremendously and his technical quality. And of course his body is very strong and he uses it very well.”
Giroud’s success as a central striker – and the versatility of Wenger’s other attacking options – means that Danny Welbeck continues to patrol the flanks. Welbeck has previously expressed his interest in playing as Arsenal’s middle man but Wenger is confident that the man he bought from Manchester United for £16m in August is excelling out wide.
“One of the reasons I bought him is that he can play as a central striker and wide,” said the Arsenal manager. “I believe he is doing extremely well, he is contributing very well to the team. All the strikers I have can play in different positions. The only one maybe who can only play centre-forward is Giroud, so when Giroud plays the others have to move out wide.”
Wenger handed a debut to Gabriel Paulista and the £11.3m signing from Villarreal had an uneventful first half – a usefully gentle introduction to English football for a player whose grasp of the language is “very bad‚“ according to his manager – but when Middlesbrough improved in the second half the Brazilian acquitted himself well. There was the odd solid headed clearance and one very fine sliding challenge when Boro threatened to break through, but also a booking after clattering into Adam Reach.
“It is interesting to observe Gabriel today because he played his first game and it was a Cup game which you absolutely have to win,” said Wenger. “And he has shown really important qualities – great concentration level, great urgency to defend and good pace, especially on the recovery tackle he made in the box. On the other hand he played a little bit with the hand brake on because you could feel that he didn’t want to make a mistake. From what I’ve seen there’s a lot to come from him.”
Gabriel was far from alone in impressing. Santi Cazorla excelled in defensive midfield, Sánchez glimmered with menace and Welbeck was a touch unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet. In all it was a thoroughly dominant performance against a team who came into the weekend as the leaders in the Championship.
“We controlled the game from the first to the last minute,” said Wenger. “They had one chance in the end with a header but overall I’m pleased with the way we attacked, with the way we defended and with the way we played together, with a good focus for 90 minutes.”
Aitor Karanka was disappointed that his side failed to match their previous efforts against the Champions League-chasers this season.
His side beat Manchester City 2-0 away from home in the fourth round and gave Liverpool a scare in the Capital One Cup, but they did not come close to repeating those performances.
“If you want to take something from games against Arsenal today you have to be perfect, the way we were at the Etihad Stadium, and you have to take advantage of your chances,” said the Boro manager. “If you make mistakes it’s difficult.”