The Watchlist – Olivier Giroud

In recent years, Arsenal have enjoyed something of a golden age when it comes to front men. From Denis Bergkamp through Thierry Henry to Robin Van Persie, a dynasty of virtuosos has consistently carried a winning tune in harmony with, or more recently in spite of, the supporting ensemble. Never has Arsenal’s reliance on its soloist been more pronounced than last season, and few would envy the weight of expectation thrust upon new signing Olivier Giroud following Robin Van Persie’s 11^th hour defection to United at the start of this campaign.

If the acquisition of master conductor Santi Cazorla and the seasonable resurgence of the much-maligned Gervinho have breathed new life into last season’s moribund backing band, Giroud’s initial contributions were conspicuously off key. Gently removed from the spotlight by Arsene Wenger in Gameweek 4, the Frenchman was eased into the fray from the bench over the ensuing clashes, and with Arsenal’s strong team performances somewhat lifting the pressure on the new arrival, Upton Park experienced a Giroud awakening in Gameweek 7.

Re-installed to centre stage against the Hammers, Wenger’s decision to shift the in-form Gervinho back to his customary berth out wide was as effective for the Gunners as it was frustrating for many Fantasy managers. With twice as many shots as his nearest Premier League competitor last week and the threat stats of a thermonuclear Chuck Norris, Giroud even achieved the minor miracle of besting Santi Cazorla in our own ICT index on his way to a goal, an assist and a full house of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) bonus points.

Whilst long-term there is the possibility that Wenger will adopt the same horses-for-courses approach with his forwards as he has with his centre backs, it seems profoundly unlikely that he would puncture Giroud’s newly inflated confidence with a return to the bench over a run of fixtures that looks rosy for Arsenal’s attacking assets (nor, QPR, mun, RDG, TOT).

Conceding nine goals in their last two games, Norwich’s newfound predilection for public incontinence will be a welcome development for Wenger’s men, and a visit from the similarly leaky QPR should present further scope for big returns the following week. A tricky trip to Old Trafford may prove a gloomy exception to the rule in Gameweek 10, but the clouds are quickly dispersed by a visit from travelsick Fulham and the home leg of a North London derby with a recent history of big scores for both sides.

With the early season template teams starting to unravel, Fantasy managers are more at liberty than ever to roll the dice with their precious front three. As we scour the markets for differentials, Giroud – priced at 8.4 in FPL and 8.7 in the Sky Sports game and with ownership of under 2% in both games – could represent a strong mid-priced alternative if he can emerge unscathed from international duty over the next week or so with Didier Deschamps’ Les Bleus.