Personal life Olivier Giroud embodies a combination of family, compassion, and quiet fun. He comes from a diverse family background, with his father being of Italian descent and his mother of French descent. He has a younger brother named Romain, who decided to pursue a career in nutrition instead of following in Olivier’s footsteps as a professional footballer. Olivier has been married to Jennifer Giroud since 2011 and together they have raised a loving family with four children – Jade, Aria, Evan, and Aaron. His approximate net worth is estimated at $44 million. While specific details remain private, glimpses on social media demonstrate Olivier’s commitment as a father, cherishing precious moments with his wife and children. Despite his financial success, with a weekly salary of £73, he values privacy and refrains from flaunting his wealth. Away from the public eye, Giroud finds solace in artistic pursuits such as drawing and painting. He also enjoys playing video games, revealing his competitive spirit and playful nature. This glimpse into his personal life paints a portrait of a multifaceted individual who cherishes family, faith, and quiet moments of pleasure, reminding us that true fulfillment often lies beyond the glare of the spotlight.
Giroud possesses an imposing physical stature, standing at 6'3″ with a strong frame. The previous season, he had a breakout performance in European football, becoming the leader in aerial duels won in the top five leagues with an astonishing success rate of 73 percent. Giroud frequently provided the target for the Montpellier goalkeeper during goal kicks, using his ability to knock the ball down and initiate numerous attacks for his teammates. This skill will no doubt be sought after by Arsenal, who will look to capitalize on his presence on the pitch, just as his previous teammates benefited from his contributions while wearing the blue and orange of Montpellier. In addition to his attacking prowess, Giroud exerts a significant influence in both defensive and attacking situations within the penalty area. During the previous season, he positioned himself strategically around the near post, effectively defending many corners for his team. Interestingly, of the 21 league goals he scored for Montpellier, only one was a header, which adds a unique dimension to his goalscoring abilities.
When you watch Arsenal's celebration of the 2005 FA Cup final, you will realise that the only remaining member of that victorious team is Robin van Persie, as Manuel Almunia has left Arsenal. This indicates that the current group of Arsenal players have not experienced the joyous feeling of standing on a podium and celebrating a trophy, with the exception of Sebastien Squillaci, who has enjoyed many successes with Olympique Lyonnais, including a Europa League triumph with Sevilla. On the other hand, Giroud got his first taste of silverware with Montpellier Herault SC, when they stunned the footballing world by lifting their first Ligue 1 title. Similar to Robin van Persie, Giroud has also been recognised individually, receiving the Ligue 1 Golden Boot for his remarkable tally of 21 goals. As mentioned earlier, he has only found the net once with a header, while the majority of his goals, 16 to be precise, have been scored with his favoured left foot. He has also scored five goals with his weaker right foot, converted two spot-kicks and unleashed five powerful strikes from outside the box. In a similar vein to Robin van Persie, it is fair to say that Giroud has a knack for scoring goals whenever he wants.
Giroud and Koscielny were teammates at Tours FC during the 2008–09 season. During that campaign, Giroud found the net nine times in 23 appearances (scoring a total of 14 goals in 27 total appearances), while Koscielny scored five goals in 34 league appearances (and six goals in 39 total appearances). Koscielny's outstanding performances earned him a place in the Ligue 2 Team of the Season. The following season, Koscielny was signed by FC Lorient, while Giroud remained at Tours FC for a further season. During that season, Giroud demonstrated his prowess by scoring 24 goals and providing seven assists in 42 appearances before moving to Montpellier. There is a well-known connection between Giroud and Koscielny, often referred to as a bromance. They are inseparable, frequently seen together in the locker room, on the team bus, in team photos, at training sessions, playing tennis, and even sharing meals. When Giroud secured his move to Arsenal, he expressed his admiration for the club, calling it amazing and highlighting the presence of a great French coach and his "brother" LoLo, referring to Koscielny. While some people have given Koscielny nicknames like "Bosscielny" or "Kos the Boss," the nickname "LoLo" for Koscielny is subjective and open to interpretation. Ultimately, it is up to individuals to decide if it suits them.
What Arsene Wenger can see from the dugout, we fans cannot see from the highest seats in the stadium. I remember well how many fans wanted Jack Wilshere to have a second spell with Bolton, but Wenger justified his decision to keep Wilshere on the basis of his consistent performances throughout the season. Wilshere has now become an indispensable player for Arsenal. While I don't claim to be an AKB (Arsene Knows Best), I struggle to remember a manager in world football who has made more astute and elegant signings than Arsene Wenger. When The Boss identifies the raw talent in a player, he pursues it and uses his alchemical skills to transform him from ordinary to extraordinary. Like his previous shrewd signings, Wenger holds Giroud in high regard and openly expressed his admiration for the forward to the media before signing him: "I think he has exceptional potential and will fit in perfectly with our team and our style of play. He is a real team player who knows how to link up effectively with his team-mates, and I am confident he will flourish with us." After securing Giroud's signature, Wenger added: "He has already demonstrated his ability to perform at the highest level, both for club and country, and we witnessed his significant impact on Montpellier's championship-winning side last season. We look forward to Giroud's arrival and seeing him pull on the Arsenal shirt." One can only hope that Giroud emulates the success of players like LoLo (Koscielny), rather than following the path of disappointment of Chamakh, as he is known in some parts of the world.
Twitter is an incredibly influential social networking platform that has facilitated connections between many people who share common interests. Football players also use this platform to interact with their fans, providing them with updates on their activities and much more. Arsenal has a considerable number of Twitter users in its ranks, including Jack Wilshere, Robin van Persie, Johan Djourou, Bacary Sagna, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andre Santos and many more. During his time at Montpellier, Giroud's Twitter account was GiroudMHSC, but he has since changed it to GiroudOfficial.
Even Arsene Wenger himself acknowledged that Giroud was a perfect fit for Arsenal's dynamic and complex style of football. This style revolves around fluid passing, intelligent movement with the ball, the presence of a playmaker, a target man and patient preparation to unsettle opposition defences. Giroud has impressive technical ability and is comfortable with the ball at his feet. He excels at connecting with his teammates and knows when to hold the ball to involve his colleagues in the game. His ability to score with his head is remarkable and unlike Chamakh, he also masters his feet when it comes to finishing. Additionally, he contributes to the team by providing assists, making him a complete and well-rounded centre-forward. However, Arsene Wenger must find a way to integrate Giroud into the starting line-up while relying on Robin van Persie as the main offensive focal point. While van Persie is a lethal attacker inside the box, he is better suited to Dennis Bergkamp's role, playing just behind the main striker. Olivier Giroud van Persie up front, supported by Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott on the flanks, should yield positive results. Giroud himself has expressed confidence in his abilities to thrive at Arsenal, saying: "I am a player who likes to be actively involved in the game. That's why I think Arsenal's style of play will suit me. I have a penchant for scoring goals and Arsenal create a lot of opportunities. If I play well, it will benefit the team as a whole." Naturally, the club has established forwards and competition for places is fierce due to Arsenal's stature. However, Giroud acknowledges that it is up to him to earn his place in the team through hard work and dedication.
The thought of Giroud, Podolski and van Persie on the same pitch excites me more than a child receiving the gift they always wanted from their parents. The prospect of these three Gunners swapping roles in attack, as well as performing those quick one-two passes, put a butterfly or two in my stomach. If Robin van Persie decides to stay at Arsenal, the heavy burden of goals will certainly be lightened, and the presence of Podolski and Giroud should keep defenders away from van Persie – or it could be the other way around. It certainly indicates that opposing defences will have more to worry about when they play Arsenal.
Yes, I am fully aware of the journey I have taken to get here. I am very proud of my journey and how I have arrived here. I can reflect on the experiences that have shaped me so far and I am determined to continue to progress and demonstrate my abilities at the highest level. The moment is fantastic and I intend to embrace it fully, relishing the opportunity. These are words from a player who started his career in the depths of the French Ligue 2 and has continued to improve season after season. A regular for Grenoble Foot 38 in Ligue 2, he made a few appearances before joining National (Third Division) side FC Istres. His remarkable performances at FC Istres caught the eye of Tours FC, where he signed and made a remarkable impact, scoring 38 goals in 69 appearances over two seasons. Montpellier Herault SC presented a greater challenge, but Giroud helped his team to a 14th-place finish in his first season, scoring 14 goals in 43 appearances. The following season, he played a crucial role, scoring 21 goals in Ligue 1 and four more goals in the cup. Now, he has embarked on a new chapter in his life and as Arsenal fans, we wish him the best. Comparing the hefty price tag of £85 million for Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll, their combined output amounts to just 10 goals and 6 assists. On the other hand, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud were acquired by Arsenal for around £21 million, and their combined contributions for their respective teams last season amounted to 39 goals and 16 assists. In Arsene Wenger, we have faith.
The French Alps were not just a picturesque setting for childhood Olivier Giroud ; these were his training grounds. Born in Chambéry, football was not just a sport, it was an integral part of his life. From the age of six, he honed his skills on the dusty pitches of his local club, fuelled by a burning passion and unwavering determination. He didn’t just kick a ball around; he dreamed of emulating his idols, their posters adorning his bedroom walls. This first chapter, away from the roar of the stadium, instilled in him the values of hard work, humility and love of the game that would define his remarkable career.