Football
Kelvin Leong 9y

Arsenal legend Ian Wright says Olivier Giroud is good enough for the Gunners

Arsenal legend Ian Wright is adamant that France international striker Olivier Giroud is a better player than he gets credit for.

Since joining the Gunners in 2012, the 28-year-old Frenchman has amassed 41 league goals in 94 appearances, but has constantly been criticised for not being the top striker that Arsenal need to mount a serious title challenge.

Speaking to ESPN FC on Wednesday, during his promotional tour for the upcoming Barclays Asia Trophy competition, the former Arsenal forward was quick to back Giroud, whom he reckons should be given more recognition than he is getting from fans and pundits alike.

"I love him [Giroud]. He is a fantastic player," said Wright. "He doesn't get a lot of credit and even Thierry [Henry] is saying that we won't win the league with him which is very unfair, because it's the players you have around you that helps to win games. It's not just the one player up front. One player up front cannot win you the league anywhere and that is why you need the team to help you.

"When you are averaging double-digit goals every season and you got help around you, then you should be able to do enough to win the league. You can't legislate for what Chelsea, [Manchester] United, Manchester City and even Liverpool are going to do because they are going to make themselves stronger.

"So for people to criticize him is very unfair and I hope that Arsene Wenger makes some signings [in the coming months] that will help Olivier prove some people wrong."

While Arsenal have found goals in the league easy to come by, with 66 this season, the North London outfit also have the third best defensive record -- only Chelsea and Southampton have a better record -- having conceded 34, with three games left to play.

Wright is adamant that Wenger and his management must look at bringing in a top class goalkeeper, along with a defender and striker, to complement an established midfield if they are to mount a serious title challenge next season.

"I would like to see us signing a new goalkeeper. Every season, every club needs three or four new players and that is the same at Arsenal. Hopefully, we can get a very good goalkeeper.

"Arsene says that we don't need another defender and I hope he is right with that one. Hopefully, Gabriel, [Per] Mertesacker, [Laurent] Koscielny, and maybe even [Calum] Chambers can chip in as well and hopefully, that is enough to sustain our Premier League title challenge.

"In midfield, we are very strong with Aaron Ramsey, [Mesut] Ozil, [Jack] Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, and also [Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield. And up front we have Theo [Walcott], [Danny] Welbeck, [Alexis] Sanchez and Olivier. One more top-class striker to make it four up there would give us a very, very good chance."

Wright also says that the Gunners will need to be at their best when they face Aston Villa in the FA Cup final at the end of May.

"The fact that we won it last year takes a bit of pressure off but being current holders also means the pressure is on us to retain it, something that not many teams get to do so that is something for us to go for.

"Villa are good and strong side, with good young players who have proven themselves now. [Jack] Grealish, [Christian] Benteke and they also have [Fabian] Delph who has broken into the England squad this season.

"They are playing very well so what you hope for is that we can be at our best on the day... because we have got players who are better than Villa's players but you always have to prove that."

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