Olivier Giroud (Part 3)

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29 Mar 2024

Olivier Giroud (Part 3)

Giroud's tenure at Arsenal continued to be marked by notable contributions, with the striker showcasing his scoring prowess and ability to deliver in crucial moments for the Gunners.
In the 2013-2014 season, Giroud kicked off the campaign with a goal against Aston Villa, although Arsenal suffered a 3-1 defeat. His decisive strike in the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur highlighted his importance in key fixtures. Further goals against Crystal Palace, Southampton, and Newcastle United bolstered Arsenal's position at the top of the Premier League table.
Giroud's impact extended to the FA Cup, where he played a pivotal role in Arsenal's journey to the final. His brace against Everton in the quarter-final and crucial penalty conversion against Wigan Athletic in the semi-final helped secure Arsenal's place in the final, where they emerged victorious against Hull City, with Giroud providing an assist for the winning goal.

The French striker's influence was further evident in the FA Community Shield, where he scored a memorable goal against Manchester City, helping Arsenal secure another title. However, his season was marred by injury after breaking his left tibia in a match against Everton, sidelining him for several months.
Despite the setback, Giroud displayed resilience upon his return to action, contributing goals and assists in various competitions. Notable performances against Manchester City, Middlesbrough, and Liverpool showcased his ability to make an impact in crucial matches.
Giroud's standout display in the 2015 FA Cup final, where he scored a goal as a substitute in Arsenal's 4-0 victory over Aston Villa, further cemented his status as a key figure in the team's success. Overall, Giroud's contributions during this period underscored his importance to Arsenal's campaigns, with his goals and performances playing a significant role in the club's pursuit of silverware.

Giroud continued to be a key figure for Arsenal during the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 seasons, showcasing his goal-scoring ability and contributing crucial performances in important matches. In the 2015-2016 season, Giroud made a significant impact early on, scoring Arsenal's first goal of the season with a spectacular sideways scissor kick against Crystal Palace. He followed this up with a crucial goal against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League group stage and a memorable hat-trick against Olympiacos, securing Arsenal's place in the last-16 of the tournament. His milestone of 50 Premier League goals for Arsenal was marked with a goal against Aston Villa.
Despite a brief goal drought, Giroud ended the season on a high note, scoring a hat-trick against Aston Villa in the final match of the season, finishing with 16 Premier League goals and 24 goals in all competitions.

The following season, Giroud initially found himself as a substitute in Arsenal's Premier League matches. However, he made an immediate impact when given the opportunity, scoring two goals with his first two touches in a match against Sunderland. He continued to showcase his scoring prowess with crucial goals against Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, and Crystal Palace, including a remarkable backheeled "scorpion kick" volley against Palace that earned him the FIFA Puskás Award for the goal of the year.
Giroud's importance to Arsenal was further emphasized by his signing of a new long-term contract with the club in January 2017. His contribution in the 2017 FA Cup final, where he provided the assist for Aaron Ramsey's winning goal against Chelsea, played a pivotal role in Arsenal's record-breaking thirteenth FA Cup triumph.

Olivier Giroud's tenure at Chelsea saw him make significant contributions to the team's success in various competitions, including the Premier League, FA Cup, and Europa League.
After joining Chelsea, Giroud made his debut in a Premier League match against Watford, coming on as a substitute. Despite a disappointing result, he quickly established himself as an integral part of the team. He provided his first assist for the club in a 3-0 win against West Bromwich Albion and scored his first goal in the FA Cup fifth round against Hull City.
Giroud's impact was further highlighted in April when he came off the bench to score twice in a remarkable comeback victory against Southampton. This marked his first Premier League goals for Chelsea.

In European competition, Giroud played a pivotal role, scoring crucial goals in the Europa League. He scored his first goal of the season against BATE Borisov, securing Chelsea's place in the knockout stages. He continued his impressive form with a brace against PAOK and a free kick goal against Vidi.
The highlight of Giroud's European campaign came in the second leg of the Europa League round of 16 tie against Dynamo Kyiv, where he scored a hat-trick. He further solidified his status as a key player by becoming the first Chelsea player to score 10 goals in a single European campaign.

Giroud's contributions were instrumental in Chelsea's success in the Europa League, culminating in a memorable performance in the final against Arsenal. He scored in the final and set up another goal, helping Chelsea secure a 4-1 victory and clinch the Europa League title.
In the following seasons, Giroud continued to make valuable contributions to Chelsea. He scored important goals in various competitions, including the Premier League and FA Cup, and signed a new contract with the club in 2020. Overall, Giroud's time at Chelsea was marked by his professionalism, leadership, and knack for scoring crucial goals in important matches, making him a beloved figure among the Chelsea faithful.

Olivier Giroud's 2020-2021 season with Chelsea was marked by several memorable performances and significant milestones. He kicked off the season in style by scoring his first goal of the campaign against Barnsley in the EFL Cup, contributing to Chelsea's emphatic 6-0 victory. Giroud continued to showcase his importance to the team by scoring crucial goals in the UEFA Champions League. He scored the winning goal against Rennes, securing Chelsea's progression to the knockout phase of the tournament. His standout moment came against Sevilla, where he made history by becoming the oldest player to score a hat-trick in Champions League history at the age of 34.

In the Premier League, Giroud made a remarkable impact, particularly when given the opportunity to start. He set a new record by becoming the oldest player to score in six successive Premier League starts, cementing his place in Chelsea's history books.
Giroud's versatility and knack for scoring important goals were evident throughout the season. He reached his 100th appearance for Chelsea in a Champions League match against Krasnodar, demonstrating his longevity and commitment to the club.
In February, Giroud added another milestone to his resume by becoming the 17th player in Premier League history to make 100 substitute appearances. He celebrated this achievement by scoring against Newcastle United, helping Chelsea secure a vital win.

One of the highlights of Giroud's season came in the Champions League round of 16 against Atlético Madrid, where he scored a stunning bicycle kick to secure a 1-0 victory for Chelsea.
Although he was an unused substitute in Chelsea's UEFA Champions League final triumph over Manchester City, Giroud's contribution throughout the season was recognized by the club. Chelsea exercised a one-year contract extension clause, ensuring that Giroud would remain with the team for the upcoming season despite numerous offers to join other clubs as a free agent.