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Tag: Giroud

  • Arsene Wenger concern as Giroud injury sours victory

    Manager Arsene Wenger says Arsenal cannot afford further injuries over the busy Christmas period after striker Olivier Giroud suffered a hamstring problem in their Carabao Cup quarter-final win over West Ham.

    Wenger, who made 11 changes from the weekend triumph over Newcastle, saw his side struggle to break down the defensively resolute visitors in the first half.

    But England forward Danny Welbeck broke West Ham’s resistance just before the break, turning in Mathieu Debuchy’s header across goal as the hosts stayed on course for a first League Cup win since 1993.

    The Gunners’ night was soured by the loss of Giroud to an injury that could rule him out for three weeks, while Francis Coquelin also limped out of the match late on.

    With Arsenal embarking on a run of 10 games in 36 days, Wenger admitted the loss of Giroud had come as a blow.

    “It is very demanding, especially because we already have a tough schedule behind us,” he said. “We have to sit down and analyse what we can do.

    “What is very worrying is when you start to lose players, like Giroud tonight. After, you cannot afford to lose another one. I have to look how I can manage the schedule.

    “When you look at our fixtures in January and February, you cannot imagine we will always play with the same players in every game.

    “Will I change from Premier League game to Premier League or only in the Carabao Cup? I don’t know yet – I have to look at the fixtures to see what I do.”

    West Ham boss David Moyes also named a much-changed side but they failed to click in attack, with the belated introductions of Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Marko Arnautovic unable to undo the home defence.

    Neither Joe Hart, restored to the West Ham side for the rested Adrian, nor Arsenal’s second-choice goalkeeper David Ospina were forced into much action in what was a disjointed contest.

    Moyes’ side had been content to sit back and try to catch Arsenal on the counter during a low-quality first half, but even with the attacking changes they could not muster a single shot on target.

  • Ronald Koeman – Not signing Giroud contributed to my sacking

    Former Everton manager Ronald Koeman says the failure to sign Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud this summer contributed to his sacking.

     

    Koeman was dismissed on Monday with Everton third from bottom in the Premier League after suffering a 5-2 defeat to Arsenal at home on Sunday.

     

    He claims France international Giroud, 31, was on the verge of agreeing a move to Goodison Park.

     

    “I had Olivier Giroud in the building,” said Koeman. “That was hard to swallow.”

     

    He told Dutch football magazine Voetbal International: “That would have been perfect but he decided he’d rather live in London.

     

    “You tell me where you can get a better striker.”

     

    Everton sold Romelu Lukaku, their leading scorer for the past four seasons, to Manchester United in July in a deal worth an initial £75m.

     

    Koeman said, “Lukaku was important to us, not only because of his goals, but because of his way of playing – strong, quick, direct,”

     

    “There was always the option of the long ball to him. Now we missed such a player, we had Nicola Vlasic and Wayne Rooney, players who want the ball in to feet.”

     

    Everton spent £150m on players over the summer, including midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson for £45m, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for £30m, defender Michael Keane for £30m and midfielder Davy Klaassen for £24m.

     

    Dutchman Koeman added: “We sold Lukaku for £90m. Our most expensive purchase, the Icelander Gylfi Sigurdsson, cost half.

     

    “It’s a lot of money, but in England you work in a world of different numbers. Players here all cost a lot more than they are actually worth. That’s how the market works.”