Olivier Giroud was sat next to Arsene Wenger when the Arsenal manager described Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar on the eve of tonight’s game as the “most efficient” front three in the world.
Giroud remained motionless, arms folded deep in thought as Wenger continued his praise of Messi. “When you see the other day that Messi scored his 300th La Liga goal in [fewer than] 340 games… I’ve seen many strikers but I’ve never seen a record like that,” he said. “Of course they are top, top class.”
Wenger has previously discussed how close Arsenal came to signing Messi as a 15-year-old and following Saturday’s goalless draw against Hull, he ruminated on another more recent failed pursuit, this time of Luis Suarez from Liverpool in 2013.
The arrival of both at Emirates Stadium tonight — in tandem with Neymar as Barca’s ‘MSN’ — provides Giroud with the opportunity to give an answer more conclusive than anything he could say at London Colney yesterday.
Wenger spent almost an entire transfer window two-and-a-half years ago searching for a top-class striker to supersede Giroud. The Gunners boss was always mindful of talking up his fellow Frenchman but the implication was clear: to take Arsenal to the next level, an elite striker was required.
How Arsenal can beat Barcelona
The much-publicised £40million-plus-£1 bid for Suarez came during a period in which Arsenal expressed an interest in signing Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema and Wayne Rooney.
Each move was audacious and all ultimately proved too complex to complete. Giroud was instead given the chance to develop as he sought to defy critics steadfast in their belief that he was an excellent striker but not a clinical matchwinner comparable with the finest around.
Giroud has enjoyed his finest season to date. Where Thierry Henry once argued Arsenal could not win the title with Giroud leading their attack, last month he declared the 29-year-old sufficiently consistent to do just that.
It is, then, somewhat untimely that as Barcelona roll into town, Giroud stands in the midst of a seven-game goalless streak approaching the year anniversary of a torrid night against Monaco in last season’s last-16 first-leg in which he was taken off after missing a host of chances.
Read More
By contrast, Suarez and Neymar both scored in Sunday’s 2-1 win at Las Palmas, taking the MSN’s season tally to a staggering 91 goals.
Wenger’s use of the word “efficient” is not unusual but seemed particularly pointed. Arsenal had 68 per cent of the ball against Hull and registered 24 shots but were unable to find their way past a Championship side that had made 10 changes for the FA Cup fifth-round tie.
It was the fourth time in the last seven games that Arsenal have not scored and while there is a clear necessity to repel Barcelona at one end, they must carry sufficient threat at the other to stay competitive.
“I cannot go into a game and think I will just play a zero-zero,” said Wenger. “You cannot say you are a big club and you just defend. On the other hand, Barcelona is a very offensive team.
“You have to try to score against them because if they have a vulnerability like we have it is defensively, like with any offensive team.”
Alexis Sanchez also has a point to prove. He was cast aside by the Catalans in a £35m deal, the product of a lack of playing time at the Nou Camp. Fans often used him as a scapegoat in his first two seasons when they underperformed and although relations improved in his final year, his sense of frustration will prove an additional motivator.
Giroud complained about the high temperature in the press conference room at London Colney as he addressed the media yesterday, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. You sense the heat is really on him tonight.
