Are flops Giroud, Podolski Wenger's bad buys?

It was perfectly set up for Olivier Giroud to deliver the perfect message to the millions of Arsenal supporters across the world.

Brought on in the last quarter of the second half of the Euro quarterfinals, his team France trailing defending and world champions Spain by a goal to nil, Giroud had the stage set.

France had done all the hard work and actually had a harrowed Spain on the backfoot.

However, Karim Benzema was having his worst possible day at the office and what was needed was a point man up front to finish off Franck Ribery’s industrious, creative build-up play.

There was no pumping of fists or wave of relief. Not for France and not for Arsenal.

Giroud’s first touch was to give the ball away. His next two were fouls.

Surely it is unfair to judge Arsenal’s newest acquisition and possible replacement for Robin Van Persie on 15 minutes in such a pressure match. Or is it?

Arsene Wenger would have been shifting uncomfortably in his chair.

Neither of his two attacking buys – Lukas Podolski and now Olivier Giroud have set the Euros alight.

Wenger seemed to have strayed from philosophy of buying potential, then making them shine, when he moved for Podolski.

The German forward remained on the bench against Greece as his team won 4-2.

In Giroud, Arsenal are looking for the ultimate attacking threat.

The France international  from Montpellier stands at 6ft 3in. More importantly he is a fierce striker of the ball and a tough player to mark.

None of that was on show against Spain.

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