Wenger Defends Giroud After Thierry Henry Criticism
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has leapt to the defence of his striker Olivier Giroud following sharp criticism from club legend Thierry Henry. The former Gunners captain, now a high-profile pundit in England, had recently suggested that Giroud was not of the calibre required to lead a Premier League title-winning side.
Wenger, clearly unimpressed by the remarks, responded with characteristic firmness.
“I think he’s wrong,” Wenger said. “The same questions were asked about Nicolas Anelka, Thierry Henry himself, and Robin van Persie. They all became world-class players. Olivier is no different in his commitment or potential.”
The Arsenal boss implied that Henry’s role as a pundit might be influencing his comments. “I know how the media world works. Thierry Henry is paid a lot of money, and television pushes him to provoke controversy.”
Giroud, 28, has scored nearly 20 goals this season despite missing two months with injury. He remains a central figure in Arsenal’s attacking setup and has played a vital role in the club’s strong second half of the campaign.
“Olivier Giroud works hard for the team and has a great mentality,” Wenger added. “If the team is doing well, he has something to do with it. He does his job well.”
While Thierry Henry’s status as an Arsenal legend lends weight to his words, Wenger’s backing of Giroud sends a clear message: the Frenchman remains an important part of Arsenal’s ambitions—and his manager isn’t ready to write him off.
