3 – Goals, Goals, Goals
Giroud scored 16 league goals last season, Lucas scored 17 league goals last season. Giroud is 29, Lucas will be 28 on September 10th. Where’s the difference?
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Well, it’s actually pretty clear to see from the stats as to how we can get the best out of these two players, and the answer hasn’t taken too long to figure out.
Of his 17 goals, Lucas didn’t score a single one with his head and most of the time he would either be floating around the edge or taking a corner/free-kick itself.
Giroud on the other hand loves getting his big noggin’ on the end of the ball and seven of his 16 goals were scored in with his head, something he is renowned for.
So they’re different in terms of aerial ability but bring their feet into contention and things are pretty even. Yes, they both love that sweet left foot of theirs.
Between them, 22 of the 33 goals were scored using their left boot and although that’s not surprising, it’s a big factor for opposition players to consider.
If either of them are turned onto their right foot then there’s a good chance they’ll either fluff the shot, or leave the courage to have a dig behind and go for the easy option.
But what we’ve learnt from everything we’ve talked about is that these two can compliment each other so well if Wenger does decide to use them as a pair up top.
We were all in love with Giroud and Griezmann’s partnership at the Euro’s and Lucas can help to relicate that at Arsenal if they both play to their strengths.
Lucas said it himself that he loves to get the ball down and run at defences, Giroud can be that target man in centre forward who can knock down those little balls.
Do I expect Lucas to score more goals this season? Yes. But does that mean Giroud will have a crappy year? No. Giroud now has to go from being our finisher to stepping back and becoming more of a creator.
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