Chelsea notched an important win by signing Olivier Giroud on deadline day
By Hugo Amaya
Chelsea signed reinforcements at the end of the transfer window for their two weakest positions: left wing-back and striker. Olivier Giroud will be a potent addition to Chelsea’s offence.
With Antonio Conte desperately asking for more players to add to his squad, Chelsea’s board acted on an unlikely character from an unlikely source: Olivier Giroud from Arsenal. The French international was not receiving much playing time on the other side of London and decided to join the real winners in the capital.
Giroud, like Alvaro Morata, is a great header of the ball. And given his lengthy experience in the Premier League, he has far better movement inside the box. This will make an instant impact for Antonio Conte. The Blues’ wing-backs lately have found themselves crossing the ball into the box, only to find no real target latching onto the pass.
The Frenchman will have to learn to link with Eden Hazard, Willian and Pedro. Chelsea’s wingers like to play short one-two passes outside and inside the box. However, this should be no problem for Giroud, as he accustomed to do so with his former teammates. He simply needs to pick up the details of his new teammates.
Moreover, Giroud has great control of the ball with his first touch. Especially when he is under pressure, he can protect and produce in a way Chelsea very much need.
More importantly, Chelsea’s new number 18 has a true striker’s instinct inside the penalty area when he is not heading the ball. He is lethal at finishing first-time, something Chelsea lack at the moment. With his intelligent movement inside the penalty area, Giroud can get in behind or in front of defenders, allowing him to tap the ball into the back of the net without much difficulty. And in case Alvaro Morata is having a bad game, Giroud can always grab a trademark late winning goal for the Blues.
Giroud’s presence will be a great addition to Conte’s attacking force. But he should also inspire the Alvaro Morata to rediscover his form and learn to be more clinical. He can also give Eden Hazard the freedom to create plays and drag players with him, rather than just running forward to score.
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Over all, Olivier Giroud will solve many of Chelsea’s attacking problems, even if only for the short term.