Alexandre Lacazette and Olivier Giroud will have an interesting dynamic this season, according to Thierry Henry.
There’s something of a unique situation at Arsenal, with Alexandre Lacazette and Olivier Giroud being in direct competition with each other for a starting place in attack. That’s not strange on its own. But there are layers to this rivalry.
One is the national team situation. Giroud has been France’s first-choice striker for a few years now and has formed a strong partnership with Antoine Griezmann. Despite all his goals in Ligue 1, Lacazette has been unable to get a regular starting spot.
At club level, however, Lacazette is set to be first choice, while Giroud will be back-up. Thiery Henry has weighed in on the situation, saying, as reported by the Metro: “It’s a funny one for Olivier Giroud, because Lacazette is his back-up in the national team but it looks like he will be first choice at Arsenal.
“I don’t know how many times it has happened in history that two players have switched roles like that between national team and club. I’m not saying it is right or wrong but it is an interesting dynamic. Arsene Wenger clearly sees things differently to the national team coach.
“Maybe he has different plans and different tactics. Lacazette is a different kind of striker to Giroud. He will stretch teams and go in behind the defence. It’s good for Arsenal to have those options, and of course they also have Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott.”
It’s important to point out that Lacazette is behind Giroud in the national team not because he’s not as good, but because of France’s current set-up. With that in mind, the latter may be more relaxed about his situation at Arsenal as he knows he has the faith of France’s manager.
Lacazette, meanwhile, could be determined to show he is better than Giroud directly at club level. If that is the case, Arsenal should benefit hugely.