Luis Suarez, Wayne Rooney, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema were all Arsenal targets in the summer.
Arsene Wenger’s failure to sign a world-class striker left supporters fearing the worst.
Few reckoned on Olivier Giroud establishing himself as Arsenal’s main man with a string of excellent displays in the lone-striker role.
In-form hitman: Olivier Giroud has been the surprise package of Arsenal's fine start to the season
But Giroud’s influence on Arsenal’s current crop is growing.
The Frenchman had a reasonably successful first season at Arsenal: 17 goals for a player who cost £13million was a decent return.
Giroud isn’t blessed with the natural ability of, say, Thierry Henry. But what he lacks in flair, he makes up for in sheer work-rate.
And he’s getting his rewards, scoring his eighth of the season in another tireless display against Palace.
‘Olivier always puts a shift in, that is what makes him great,’ said Wenger. ‘He misses some chances but he always gets the support from our fans because he shows he is ready for a fight.
‘The fact that he kept going against Palace got him the goal.
‘How much he has improved, I don’t know. But he has, that’s obvious to everybody. If he keeps working like that then he will improve again. I like his spirit.’
Improving talent: Giroud has gradually grown into the role of replacing Robin van Persie
The fear is that he could suffer burn-out. Given the club’s lack of
striking options, Giroud, barring injury, is certain to start the club’s
Premier League and Champions League fixtures.
Wenger has decided to scale back the 27-year-old’s training schedule to ensure he does not move into the ‘red zone’ and can re-energise fully between fixtures.
Transfer targets: But Arsenal failed to seal the signings of Luis Suarez (left) and Gonzalo Higuain
‘We have to adapt the training. This week he didn’t practise a lot,
just on Friday, really. That was to prepare for the Palace game.
‘It’s always a bit different at the back where you have to respond to the run and in attack you have to provoke the run.
‘It can be physically more demanding for forwards. But he has improved through training and the fact he has played with top players. They put a pressure on you to take care of every pass because if you don’t do that then players like Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla will let you know.’
Saturday’s win kept Arsenal top of the Barclays Premier League.
World-class midfielders: It helps to have players as creative as Mesut Ozil (left) and Jack Wilshere
But November is likely to provide the Gunners with a true test of their domestic and European staying power.
Clashes against Liverpool and Manchester United will provide a clear indication of whether Wenger’s side can launch a realistic title tilt, while games against Borussia Dortmund and Marseille will have a huge bearing on their prospects of reaching the Champions League knockout stages.
But midfielder Mathieu Flamini is a major doubt for Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash against Liverpool because of a groin injury. He went off in the opening 10 minutes at Palace and could even miss next week’s match in Dortmund.
Flamini is definitely out of Tuesday’s Capital One Cup tie against Chelsea.
'Test': Per Mertesacker knows Arsenal's imminent fixtures will be difficult
‘The games we have coming up will be the test,’ said defender Per Mertesacker.
‘We know for sure that we have started well this time. We have improved a lot over the last two years.
‘When you compare this to the last three seasons we are in a better position and it feels much better to be where we are now.
‘We don’t have to get any points back and it gives us more safety. But I think there will be many more tests to come which will be crucial for the rest of the season.
‘I think we have surprised a few people already this season and we want to surprise them more and more. That’s what we need to do.’
NOVEMBER CRUNCH
Last November Arsenal could only manage one win — 5-2 over Spurs — in five Premier League games. This November looks like being a good test of their title credentials:
NOVEMBER 2012
3rd Man Utd (a) 2-1 (L)
10th Fulham (h) 3-3 (D)
17th Tottenham (h) 5-2 (W)
24th Aston Villa (a) 0-0 (D)
28th Everton (a) 1-1 (D)
NOVEMBER 2013
2nd Liverpool (h)
10th Man Utd (a)
23rd Southampton (h)
30th Cardiff (a)
Arsene Wenger’s failure to sign a world-class striker left supporters fearing the worst.
Few reckoned on Olivier Giroud establishing himself as Arsenal’s main man with a string of excellent displays in the lone-striker role.
In-form hitman: Olivier Giroud has been the surprise package of Arsenal's fine start to the season
The Frenchman had a reasonably successful first season at Arsenal: 17 goals for a player who cost £13million was a decent return.
Giroud isn’t blessed with the natural ability of, say, Thierry Henry. But what he lacks in flair, he makes up for in sheer work-rate.
And he’s getting his rewards, scoring his eighth of the season in another tireless display against Palace.
‘Olivier always puts a shift in, that is what makes him great,’ said Wenger. ‘He misses some chances but he always gets the support from our fans because he shows he is ready for a fight.
‘The fact that he kept going against Palace got him the goal.
‘How much he has improved, I don’t know. But he has, that’s obvious to everybody. If he keeps working like that then he will improve again. I like his spirit.’
Improving talent: Giroud has gradually grown into the role of replacing Robin van Persie
Wenger has decided to scale back the 27-year-old’s training schedule to ensure he does not move into the ‘red zone’ and can re-energise fully between fixtures.
Transfer targets: But Arsenal failed to seal the signings of Luis Suarez (left) and Gonzalo Higuain
‘It’s always a bit different at the back where you have to respond to the run and in attack you have to provoke the run.
‘It can be physically more demanding for forwards. But he has improved through training and the fact he has played with top players. They put a pressure on you to take care of every pass because if you don’t do that then players like Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla will let you know.’
Saturday’s win kept Arsenal top of the Barclays Premier League.
World-class midfielders: It helps to have players as creative as Mesut Ozil (left) and Jack Wilshere
Clashes against Liverpool and Manchester United will provide a clear indication of whether Wenger’s side can launch a realistic title tilt, while games against Borussia Dortmund and Marseille will have a huge bearing on their prospects of reaching the Champions League knockout stages.
But midfielder Mathieu Flamini is a major doubt for Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash against Liverpool because of a groin injury. He went off in the opening 10 minutes at Palace and could even miss next week’s match in Dortmund.
Flamini is definitely out of Tuesday’s Capital One Cup tie against Chelsea.
'Test': Per Mertesacker knows Arsenal's imminent fixtures will be difficult
‘The games we have coming up will be the test,’ said defender Per Mertesacker.
‘We know for sure that we have started well this time. We have improved a lot over the last two years.
‘When you compare this to the last three seasons we are in a better position and it feels much better to be where we are now.
‘We don’t have to get any points back and it gives us more safety. But I think there will be many more tests to come which will be crucial for the rest of the season.
‘I think we have surprised a few people already this season and we want to surprise them more and more. That’s what we need to do.’
NOVEMBER CRUNCH
Last November Arsenal could only manage one win — 5-2 over Spurs — in five Premier League games. This November looks like being a good test of their title credentials:
NOVEMBER 2012
3rd Man Utd (a) 2-1 (L)
10th Fulham (h) 3-3 (D)
17th Tottenham (h) 5-2 (W)
24th Aston Villa (a) 0-0 (D)
28th Everton (a) 1-1 (D)
NOVEMBER 2013
2nd Liverpool (h)
10th Man Utd (a)
23rd Southampton (h)
30th Cardiff (a)
