The Guardian have ranked Olivier Giroud as the 30th best footballer in the world, solidifying his status as one of the top strikers in the game.
This ranking serves as a reminder of the mistake Arsenal made in selling the Frenchman back in 2018.
Only one Arsenal player ranked higher than Giroud on this list – Bukayo Saka, while the French striker was placed above the likes of Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus.
Since leaving Arsenal, Giroud has accomplished a great deal, including winning the World Cup, the Champions League and Serie A.
He’s also France’s all-time record goalscorer, a testament to his scoring ability. At the Qatar World Cup, he scored four goals and was a key player for France as they lost the final on penalties.
Up until recently, Arsenal’s depth up front did not look particularly strong, and having a player like Giroud this season would have been a huge help.
Luckily for Arsenal, Eddie Nketiah has stepped up to the plate recently, but having a proven, experienced player like Giroud would have been a valuable asset to the team.
Giroud’s success since leaving Arsenal is a painful reminder of the decision to let him go – a decision that now looks like a mistake.
It’s been more clear than ever over the past 12 months that he still has what it takes to perform at the highest level, and his ranking as the 30th best footballer in the world is a testament to his abilities.
Of course, whether or not Giroud is deserving of such a ranking is up for debate, but it has to be said that his form for club and country over the past year has been sublime.
You often hear about the mistakes Arsenal made in selling the likes of Serge Gnabry or Ismael Bennacer, but perhaps selling Giroud was their biggest blunder after all.
