Wayne Rooney feels Arsenal would be a better team if Olivier Giroud started, and that they should have sold Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.
Giroud has started just one Premier League game for Arsenal this season and they were certainly not better for it.
Regardless, Wayne Rooney, who’s perhaps making some early inroads towards a career as a pundit, has given his opinion about what Arsenal should be doing with the Frenchman.
“The one player for me who has to start [for Arsenal] is Olivier Giroud,” he told talkSPORT.
“He scores goals and, every time he comes on he scores. He’s a handful and hard to play against.
“For me, if he was starting games for Arsenal, they would be a better team.”
Giroud does, indeed, score goals.
So does Alexandre Lacazette, who has scored more goals than Giroud has (as many as Giroud and Alexis combined in the league, in fact), so I’m not entirely sure what Rooney’s argument is here.
Rooney also gave his thoughts on the Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil situation.
“With the two of them not signing contracts in the summer, I think that told you everything,” he said.
“The way it is, I don’t think they will be at Arsenal [next season].
“I feel they should have taken the money and looked elsewhere because, although they are top players and it is difficult to let those players leave the football club, when the going gets tough – as it is at the minute for Arsenal – you want players who want to be there and you can put your trust in.
“If they are not going to be there at the end of the season, maybe there are a few question marks.”
Ozil is performing for Arsenal during these so-called tough times, and while Alexis’ form has been poor, he is, at least, still trying.
Granted, you won’t find many Arsenal fans at the moment who would be against selling the Chilean during the January transfer window.
It’s something Arsenal will have to think about, especially if Alexis’ form doesn’t show signs of improving.
Alexis scored 30 goals in all competitions last season, but has just five so far this season.
Ozil, on the other hand, is finding form again and has three goals in five assists.