Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has claimed that French striker Olivier Giroud has become a bit of an “animal” according to ITV Football.
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The domineering striker has scored 12 goals in his last 12 games, helping the Gunners re-ignite a potential title charge and representing a rich vein of form for him.
According to Wenger, the Arsenal man has improved his physical presence which has in turn improved his game, “Olivier Giroud has a fantastic body strength… and sometimes he needed to be challenged really physically to become really that animal he can be.”
In his time at the Emirates Stadium, Giroud has gone on to have a relatively successful time playing in a hold-up role with his back to goal and Wenger believes that in order to have an effective time in that position – his technical game has had to improve hugely.
He said, “He has the kind of game which is linked with his back to goal, protection (of the ball), so he gets hit a lot, sometimes that game demands as well more commitment and toughness.
But on the other hand, Olivier Giroud is a player who has improved tremendously technically.”
Along with this, the French international has spent time in the gym which is now paying dividends for him and is almost unrecognisable from when he arrived at the club, even if that means he is a presence to be feared now.
“You take some pictures of Olivier Giroud when he arrived, and today he is a different player – let’s not forget this guys is 92kgs, when he walks on your feet, you feel it,” said Wenger.