CONTE WINS BIG ON FRONT LINE
Giroud’s his Wembley wizard
When Chelsea launched a search party armed with measuring sticks in January it took time before they returned with Olivier Giroud.
Andy Carroll and edin Dzeko had been considered and dismissed for different reasons. Ashley Barnes, Peter Crouch and Islam Slimani were among the others linked with the role as agents far and wide buffed their big men and drove them to Stamford Bridge.
Antonio Conte had taken against Michy Batshuayi and the Chelsea fans who pined for Diego Costa were presented with Giroud, who cost £18 million and was no longer able to hold down a place in Arsenal’s struggling team.
Three months on and it is beginning to look like an inspired nugget of mid-season business. Giroud has scored four times, with three coming against Southampton, as did his final goal for Arsenal, in December.
There have been other key assists and cameo contributions from the 31-year- old, who has also impressed with his professional manner and mature approach to his role in the squad during a difficult time for Conte. Then there was this, a magical slalom goal which came 29 seconds into the second half and uncorked what had been until that point a turgid semifinal, sending Chelsea on their way back to the FA Cup final.
‘My second passion is skiing,’ said Giroud, born in Chambery in the French Alps. ‘I saw a lot of people in front of me and I just tried to dribble a little bit and I had a bit of luck but that’s what I wanted to do.’
It was a charming goal in so many ways. There was the vision and accuracy of the pass by Cesc Fabregas and the exquisite touches by eden hazard to pull it out of the sky and nudge it on to his team-mate.
Ultimately, Giroud’s finish was a delight, twisting through the bodies of Southampton players as they slid across his field of vision like David Luiz on rollerblades.
For all his selfless work and intelligent combination play, he loves to apply an audacious finish. Last season, his scorpion-kick goal against Crystal Palace was voted FIFA’s Goal of the Year.
This time, the slalom, a homage to Lionel Messi, Mo Salah and Alberto Tomba. Giroud is a Wembley specialist, too, emerging victorious in each of the 10 club games he has played at the venue.
These include three FA Cup semifinals and three finals with Arsenal, and three FA Community Shields.
Last May, against Chelsea, he set up the winning goal for Aaron Ramsey, just as he had done three years earlier, against hull City. In 2015, his goal completed a rout as Arsenal thumped Aston Villa 4-0.
‘It is like my garden,’ Giroud told BT Sport after beating the Saints. ‘I love to play here and hopefully for the final we are going to keep the momentum going.
‘I have told them I really want them to enjoy the FA Cup as I know how special it is to win it.’
he will be back on May 19 and has made a strong case to lead the line against Manchester United.
It is difficult for Conte to overlook him, even if Alvaro Morata, the club’s £70m record signing, replaced Giroud for the final 10 minutes against Southampton, scored the second and might have had a hat-trick.
As well as Chelsea against old favourites Jose Mourinho, nemanja Matic and Juan Mata, and a repeat of the first FA Cup final after the reopening of Wembley in 2007, it will be Giroud against Alexis Sanchez.
Two players central to Arsenal’s domination of the competition in recent years who left the emirates Stadium in the same month.
After six years in north London, Giroud has adjusted smoothly to his transfer to the west of the capital city.
Chelsea fans rose to applaud him and sing his name when it was time for him to be replaced and gave him another standing ovation when he returned in flip-flops after the final whistle to bask in the glory. They have taken him to their hearts.
‘It has been a good signing for us,’ said Conte. ‘As you know, I needed a player with this characteristic, strong physically, to hold the ball up and allow our no 10s to make combinations with him.
‘ Morata is also an important striker, younger than Olivier, with less experience and not so strong physically but, at the same time, he is very fast to act on the space.’
The Chelsea boss started with Giroud and Morata in tandem at Burnley last week and added: ‘I have another option, another card in my hand during the game.
‘I decided to start with Olivier because I knew we had to play against three very strong central defenders.’
Giroud looks the man for the big occasion and he is measuring up well.