Giroud making up for lost time

West Brom 0 Arsenal 1

For Arsenal’s French striker the last three months have been nothing short of a nightmare.

After suffering a broken leg in only the second Premier League match of the season — a 2-2 draw against Everton — the France international had initially been expected to be out until 2015.

The 28-year-old’s determination was rewarded, however, with an ahead-of-schedule return to action last weekend against Manchester United and it was followed up at The Hawthorns by his first start in over three months.

Now, by his own admission, stronger for the experience, Giroud is eager to make up for lost time — and his return comes at a convenient moment for Arsene Wenger in the Frenchman’s now seemingly annual hour of need.

The toughest test of his career? “Yes. It was a real test,” he said. “When you are far away from the pitch it is tough. I took a lot of pleasure from this game.

“I have been impatient, it has been really frustrating for me.

“I tried to work hard at training and come back stronger. It is good, sometimes, for your mental strength to go through this and this is why I am stronger.”

Wenger is, no doubt, blessed with an embarrassment of attacking riches.

Even in the absence of Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott he was able to name a front three of Giroud and his two big summer signings Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck for what was the first time all three started a game together.

It was a promising start, as the trio interchanged effectively.

Welbeck’s link-up play particularly impressed and the England forward — whom it is highly unlikely would have been signed had Giroud not succumbed to injury — departed with a first Gunners goal in seven outings.

In the 60th minute, Santi Cazorla got the better of Andre Wisdom before standing up an inviting cross for Welbeck, whose header proved too powerful for Ben Foster’s fingertips.

It was, in fact, Cazorla who excelled most against a West Brom side set up more to curb than create.

Giroud, though, is adamant the trio will click.

“There is good competition and we can play together, definitely,” he said. “Me, Danny, Alexis — we are confident playing together.”

As for Wenger, the glare of the spotlight has somewhat faded — for now, at least.

Anything but a victory at The Hawthorns would have thrust the pressure immediately back on the manager following back-to-back defeats in their previous two Premier League matches.

Yet this win, coupled with a midweek success over Borussia Dortmund which secured qualification to the knockout phases of the Champions League, leaves his position under far less scrutiny.

That said, the unfurling of a banner in the away end ‘Arsene, thanks for the memories but it is time to say goodbye’ after the game indicated some fans remain far from convinced.

What more he can do to answer the sceptics?

“I can do my job,” he replied. “I do my job with total commitment, I would like you to live with me and see for seven days what kind of work we produce, and you will see that it is total commitment.”

When asked if people don’t realise that, he answered: “I don’t mind. I do what I love, but I think I do it with honesty and total commitment. Am I hurt by any of it? No. Honestly, no.”

The concern for the Arsenal hierarchy must be that blips such as that which have gripped the Gunners of late are an all too regular occurrence, even if his team eventually always appears to be galvanised by the criticism which comes their way before embarking on a run.

“Look, in the last 15 years, we are qualified for the last 16 in the Champions League,” Wenger added.

“Give me another club who has done that. I think we have shown extreme consistency and that’s all we can do. We’ve had ups and downs in the league — yes, it’s true, but you only come back again when the spirit is strong and healthy and united inside the club. And I think if you have shown such a consistency, it’s because we have that at the club. We have values and we respect them.”

What Wenger says is true — yet, aside from their run to the final in 2006, what have Arsenal actually done upon reaching the knockout stages? The answer, particularly, in recent seasons is very little.

The Frenchman, partly at least, blames hellish draws against one of Europe’s giants for their exits in the last 16 in the last four campaigns. That, though, is often the price paid for finishing second in their group.

And given it is exactly where they again look destined to finish this time around — not to mention those all-too familiar inconsistencies — do not expect it to be any different on their latest foray into Europe.

WEST BROM (4-2-3-1): Foster 4; Wisdom 5, Lescott 6, Dawson 6, Pocognoli 6 (Gamboa 74); Gardner 5, Mulumbu 5 (Anichebe 64, 5); Brunt 5, Dorrans 5, Sessègnon 5 (Samaras 76); Berahino 5.

ARSENAL (4-3-3): Martinez 6; Chambers 6, Mertesacker 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 5 (Gibbs 23, 6): Flamini 6, Ramsey 7, Cazorla 8; Sanchez 6, Giroud 6 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 78), Welbeck 7.

Referee: Chris Foy