“I’m going to try not to get too emotional today.”confided Olivier Giroud as he entered the Emirates Stadium this Tuesday for Losc’s Champions League match on Arsenal’s field. The 2018 world champion made a remarkable comeback in front of the Gunners public, he who celebrated his 40th birthday on September 30 and is probably playing his very last season at the high level.
Giroud’s career took a decisive turn at Arsenal from 2012 until 2018, for a total of 253 matches in all competitions and 105 goals, with three FA Cups to his name (2014, 2015 and 2017). The performances of the IsĂ©rois on the other side of the Channel took him to the 2018 world title with the Blues. He notably received the 2017 Puskas Prize for a fabulous scorpion shot against Crystal Palace.
Giroud in the history of French football
Replacing at kick-off, Davide Ancelotti opting for Ayase Ueda up front (the Japanese international fought well and scored an offside goal in the 22nd), Giroud appeared on the scene in the 78th minute while the Mastiffs were already trailing 3-0 on goals from JurriĂ«n Timber (64th), Eberechi Eze (67th) and Bukayo Saka (71st). Lille did not manage to resist until the last 20 minutes and the entries of Mikel Arteta’s usual starters made the difference.
Gave a standing ovation when he came into play by the London public (Arsenal supporters sang the song dedicated to their former French player to the tune ofHey Jude of the Beatles), Olivier Giroud took a lap of honor after the final whistle, leaving the pitch. Another consolation prize: at 40 years and 13 days old, he is now the only French player to have played in the European Cup over the age of 40. And Losc still has six C1 matches on the calendar.
