Of recent, Arsene Wenger has been faced with a selection dilemma regarding who should be his first choice option upfront among makeshift centre-forward Alexis Sanchez, and the club’s primary and main striker of the last 4 seasons Olivier Giroud.
With the European Championships having finished on July 10th, a month prior to the start of the 2016-17 Premier League which kicked off on August 13th, Wenger gave a deserved extended break to Giroud who had led France to a disappointing 2nd placed finish in the continental competition.
In his absence, Sanchez got drafted into the vacant position, and he immediately hit the ground running in his new role, scoring 4 goals and assisting 2 others in his first 6 league games as the club’s new number 9.
During that time, Giroud made his return to the squad only to get sidelined almost immediately with a toe injury after seeing EPL action just twice. That kept him out of action until matchday 6 when he made his 3rd league appearance off the bench against Chelsea.
Since then, he has come on as a substitute in his last 3 EPL games against United, Tottenham and Sunderland. During that time, the 30-year-old found the back of the net thrice – scoring 1 more goal than Sanchez in the process.
On the back of the form he has displayed in just the 1 hour of action afforded him within matchday 10 to 12, should he be returned to the starting XI? And Sanchez redeployed to the left wing, or should he continue as Wenger’s plan B and continue making appearances off the substitute bench?
For starters, no other squad player in the EPL has scored more goals (3) than the French international, and considering the urgency he brings into play, and the team’s ability to turn to other sources of getting goals by loading aerial crosses into the box mainly for him, he could be on his way to becoming the latest EPL super sub in history.
Should plan B Giroud be Wenger’s weapon of choice against PSG? – article by @BenMcAleer1 – https://t.co/pEMuFDWbGx #AFCvPSG pic.twitter.com/vsxcRExQin
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) November 23, 2016
Giroud is all about goals. Sanchez is all about goals, and the assists. Flexibility and versatility are the factors which make the Chilean not just a goal scorer but a goal creator as well. Being able to constantly drop deep to collect passes and also locate others in the box while he is temporarily out of position, the 27-year-old gets to create chances for himself and his teammates. His French mate waits for everything to be delivered on a platter.
While that is what most strikers often do and are required to most of the time, what makes the few special ones stand out is their ability to do more of fighting for the ball and contributing to play in the final third. And it’s why Sanchez has been more productive in the makeshift centre-forward role.
So, regardless of Giroud’s special ability to contribute to Arsenal’s goals with his headers – a very strong weapon of his having scored the most headed Premier League goals since his arrival in 2012, he is better off coming on in games to decide or put them to bed as he doesn’t have that all-round killer instinct in the final third as Sanchez.
Arsenal
Arsenal Extend Hotels.com Partnership as Premier League Champions Maintain Commercial Sponsorship Through 2026-27 Season
Arsenal have extended their commercial relationship with Hotels.com, maintaining the travel brand as Official Partner of the Premier League champions across both their men’s and women’s operations. The sponsorship renewal, which commenced in 2023, provides Hotels.com continued access to Emirates Stadium alongside meaningful engagement with Arsenal’s globally distributed supporter base, particularly those travelling domestically and across European competition fixtures.
Hotels.com recognises the commercial value of football’s unique capacity to mobilise supporter travel, with their data demonstrating significant accommodation search increases during Arsenal’s competitive campaigns. The partnership extension reflects genuine commercial alignment regarding supporter engagement and travel-focused experience creation extending beyond purely transactional sponsorship arrangements.
Commercial Partnership Enables Supporter Experience Development
Hotels.com’s sponsorship provides Arsenal direct pathway toward their globally engaged supporter base, particularly those following the club across domestic and European competitions. The brand’s investment in travel-focused content and curated supporter packages suggests genuine commitment toward meaningful fan engagement rather than purely passive logo placement.
That approach aligns with Arsenal’s stated objective regarding supporter community deepening, establishing commercial partnerships as integral to their competitive and cultural ambitions.
Data Validation Demonstrates Partnership Commercial Viability
Hotels.com’s reported metrics showing 1,300% accommodation search increases during Champions League final weekend combined with 30% domestic matchday increases validate the partnership’s genuine commercial effectiveness. Those figures establish measurable evidence of supporter travel patterns connected directly to Arsenal’s competitive success, suggesting authentic correlation between championship performance and travel engagement.
This extension feels strategically important for Arsenal’s commercial positioning. Rather than pursuing purely transactional sponsorship arrangements, they invest in partnerships enabling genuine supporter experience enhancement. Hotels.com’s continued investment suggests confidence in Arsenal’s continued competitive success throughout their partnership duration.
Also read: Manchester City Host Barcelona at Joie Stadium as Champions Prepare for Elite Pre-Season Test
Arsenal
Arsenal Under-21s Defeat London Bees in Encouraging Pre-Season Friendly as Academy Prospects Continue Development Trajectory
Arsenal Women’s Under-21s secured a 1-0 victory against London Bees in entertaining pre-season friendly, with England Under-17 international Cairo Antoine providing the decisive goal following excellent centre-back Millie Marriott diagonal pass.
The match demonstrated contrasting performance levels across both halves, with Arsenal controlling the opening period before London Bees emerged as genuine threat during the second half, providing balanced assessment of the young squad’s competitive readiness.
Arsenal’s academy prospects including Bella Cowley, Marriott and Antoine demonstrated genuine quality throughout the fixture, establishing themselves as emerging talent deserving continued senior investment. Amy Liddiard’s clean sheet performance as goalkeeper suggests meaningful first-team pathway potential despite currently occupying third-choice position behind established senior goalkeepers.
Young Prospects Display Genuine Elite Development Markers
Antoine, Cowley and Marriott all impressed throughout the fixture, demonstrating the technical quality and tactical intelligence required for elite-level competition. That performance level suggests these academy graduates continue progressing appropriately through development structures, though significant adaptation remains required before consistent senior contribution becomes realistic expectation.
The presence of England Under-19 manager John Solomon alongside first-team youngster Sophie Harwood suggests genuine institutional monitoring of these young talents’ developmental progression.
Academy Development Requires Sustained Patience Rather Than Immediate Promotion
The clear assessment emerges that these academy prospects, despite impressive showings, remain two to three years away from delivering consistent senior contribution within championship and Champions League competition. That developmental timeline reflects realistic expectations regarding the substantial gap between elite Under-21 football and genuine senior elite competition demanding sustained consistency.
This fixture feels strategically important for Arsenal’s institutional philosophy. Rather than forcing premature academy advancement, they maintain patient developmental approach recognising these young players’ genuine quality alongside realistic assessment of their competitive readiness limitations. Liddiard’s interesting case regarding goalkeeping hierarchy warrants first-team pre-season exposure, potentially accelerating her development pathway while maintaining squad depth security.
Arsenal
Charlton Athletic Women Confirm Arsenal Pre-Season Friendly as Final Preparation Before Liverpool League Opener
Charlton Athletic Women have confirmed their final pre-season fixture against Arsenal Women at Meadow Park on Wednesday, August 26, at 7 pm BST, providing elite opposition testing ahead of their inaugural Women’s Super League campaign.
The friendly represents crucial preparation opportunity enabling Charlton to assess their competitive readiness against established championship-level opposition immediately before their domestic campaign commences.
Charlton’s Women’s Super League debut begins the following week against Liverpool at The Valley on Sunday September 6, establishing their first competitive fixture as newly promoted club enters elite-level football. That compressed pre-season schedule provides limited preparation timeframe for Karen Hills’ squad to implement tactical philosophies whilst integrating their summer recruitment additions.
Arsenal Provide Elite Preparation Benchmark
Arsenal’s Meadow Park venue provides familiar Arsenal Women home environment, enabling the Gunners to utilise their established training and match-day infrastructure whilst testing Charlton’s competitive foundation. That fixture represents genuine championship-level testing opportunity essential for newly promoted teams requiring clear perception regarding their competitive standing against established elite performers.
The pre-season arrangement appears deliberately scheduled to provide maximum preparation value immediately preceding Charlton’s genuine league campaign commencement.
Season Ticket Availability Enables Fan Engagement
Charlton have confirmed fixed season ticket pricing at £80 for their inaugural Women’s Super League campaign, providing supporters accessible pricing structure supporting consistent matchday attendance throughout their championship journey. That affordable pricing suggests deliberate fan engagement strategy supporting community investment in their historic league elevation.
This fixture schedule feels strategically important for Charlton’s competitive foundation. Rather than purely ceremonial pre-season preparation, the Arsenal friendly provides elite testing enabling Hill’s assessment of her squad’s genuine competitive readiness.
That structured approach combined with accessible season ticket pricing suggests genuine commitment toward supporting their Women’s Super League establishment through comprehensive fan engagement and competitive preparation.
Also read: Wales Duo Olivia Francis and Ellen Jones Join Wolves Following Promotion to Women’s Super League 2
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