A lengthy article from a TA reporter reviews Giroud's career: The word "legend" provokes varied reactions when Olivier Giroud is mentioned.

To some, France's second-leading all-time goalscorer (57 goals, behind only Mbappé's 68) will always be remembered as a prolific finisher who created spectacular moments. To others, this 40-year-old veteran has proven that players should never be underestimated.

Some Arsenal fans may have mixed feelings about Giroud due to his inconsistent performances during his time as the club's main striker from 2012 to 2018. Eight and a half years later, near the end of his 20-year career, Giroud will return to the Emirates this week with Lille to compete in the Champions League.

While he created many brilliant moments, such as his scorpion kick goal against Crystal Palace in 2017 and his clever assist for Wilshere's iconic goal against Norwich City in 2013, some moments remain painful for Arsenal supporters.

In 2015, Arsenal performed poorly against Monaco and was eliminated in the Champions League Round of 16—one of many heartbreaking exits in the competition. Equally disappointing was the 2015-16 season, when Arsenal failed to score in 15 consecutive league matches, finishing with only 71 points while Leicester City won the title with 81 points.

Giroud was 31 when he left Arsenal in January 2018, after four and a half years at the club, scoring 105 goals and helping Arsène Wenger win three FA Cups. As a respected player, it could be said that Giroud's reputation grew more in the five and a half years after leaving Arsenal than during his time there.

Six months after leaving the French national team in summer 2018, he won the World Cup with France; in 2021, he won the Champions League with Chelsea; and in 2022, he played a key role in AC Milan's first Serie A title in 11 years.

Giroud recently stated in an interview with L'Équipe that his best years were between ages 30 and 32, saying that "this is especially true for strikers" because "you reach a certain maturity, you know yourself better."

During those years, he became more mature and self-aware.

Ten years ago, at the start of the 2016-17 season, at age 30, he reached peak efficiency. With Sanchez deployed as the main striker, his playing time was reduced, but he gradually earned a reputation as a "super sub"—half his league goals that season (6 of 12) came from the bench.

Giroud's breakthrough came that same month a decade earlier. Coming off the bench, he scored twice in Arsenal's 3-1 comeback away to Sunderland from a 1-1 deficit. His second goal was a curved header, which would become his trademark. He is Arsenal's all-time Premier League header scorer with 27 goals. That season, half of his 12 league goals were headers—thanks to Arsenal switching to a three-at-the-back formation mid-season with wing-backs.

Before his role became so clear, Giroud seemed to be one of Arsenal's most controversial players.

He joined from Montpellier as a Ligue 1 champion and leading goalscorer, but his explosive power and finishing were far inferior to Van Persie's. It took him seven games to score his first league goal, which didn't help him win over the fans. Given Giroud's lack of sharpness in front of goal, it was easy to lose faith in him, and some fans and media certainly did.

However, Giroud had long grown accustomed to being underestimated. This player, who earned 137 caps for France, came through Grenoble's academy, making 23 appearances for the club in Ligue 2 between 2005 and 2007. With only two goals in those 23 matches, Grenoble's new coach even told Giroud he wasn't good enough for Ligue 2.

Giroud added in his L'Équipe interview: "I don't blame him (Bazdarevic) for that, and I never have—though you shouldn't say such things to a 19 or 20-year-old kid just starting his career."

"He was right, but do you say that to a kid? It's hard to take. I played very well for a year in the National league (third division), but after that I needed to prove myself, so I went to Ligue 2."

"At that time, I wasn't at the level of Ligue 1 or Ligue 2 yet, because I only made a few appearances for Grenoble beforehand, starting just twice. I don't hate him, and my Christian faith also allows me to forgive others easily and not hold grudges. This helped me see many things more objectively."

The highlight of Giroud's time in the National league came during his loan spell at Istres, where he scored 14 goals in 33 league appearances. He then moved to Ligue 2 side Tours, scoring 30 goals in 61 league appearances, which caught Montpellier's attention. In the 2011-12 season, he helped Montpellier win their first-ever Ligue 1 title. At just 25 years old, in the season he helped his team win the league title, Giroud received his first national team call-up. His most recent call-up came in 2024 at age 37, making him France's oldest international player ever.

The perspective he spoke of proved crucial at Arsenal, and still does. Even during his early goal drought in his first London season, those who appreciated Giroud pointed to his technique, teamwork, and movement as his strengths.

While never the most prolific goalscorer, he possessed fundamental skills crucial to his position—skills that were perhaps overlooked at the time.

He wasn't the fastest, but his accuracy with near-post crosses was exceptional. Giroud knew he couldn't always run in behind defenders, so he would drop deeper to link play with teammates around the box—a skill that seems increasingly rare today. Equally rare was his ability to one-touch the ball to surging teammates, continuing attacks.

Young forwards today could learn as much from Giroud's overall game as from his goals.

Arsenal's squad had technical players like Wilshere and Cazorla, as well as pace merchants like Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Sanchez, and he was able to connect all these players.

Arsenal may not have been truly competitive then, but their football was entertaining, and Giroud was a key factor in their success—a fact reflected in his national team performances as well.

Former France manager Didier Deschamps understood Giroud's value well, and he started in six of seven matches during their 2018 World Cup victory—though he failed to score in the tournament. At that time, the French national team was under scrutiny due to Karim Benzema's absence from 2016 to 2021. Benzema, then at Real Madrid, was one of the world's top strikers. Giroud's outstanding play freed up Mbappé, who made frequent explosive runs from the right wing to the center.

At the Qatar World Cup, Mbappé scored four goals, surpassing Henry to become France's all-time leading goalscorer. He led France to the final again, eventually losing to Messi's Argentina on penalties, further enhancing Giroud's legacy.

Regarding this latest chapter of his career, returning to Ligue 1 to join Lille, he said: "Coming back to France after a long career abroad is very important, and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made."

"It wasn't planned, but I'm very happy about it, because I've been welcomed warmly at every French stadium where I've played."

He acknowledged his family helped him decide to undertake this farewell tour, and he's fortunate that his former club Arsenal is now part of that schedule. His difficult times in North London and his taunting of Arsenal after Chelsea's Europa League final victory over them may not guarantee Giroud a warm reception when he returns to the Emirates.

However, given that he's 40 years old, has achieved such brilliant success, and has been underestimated countless times before, his continued performances at this level deserve recognition. Whenever he decides to retire, his brilliant moments will forever be etched in history.

Diterjemahkan oleh AI.

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