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The Clutch Moments That Demonstrate Chelsea Should Hold on to Olivier Giroud

With the January transfer window creeping inconceivably into view already, there must be surreal sense of déja vu for Chelsea's Olivier Giroud.

That's because all of the following is true of the pre-Christmas periods of both 2019 and 2020:

  • The Frenchman has played fewer than 200 Premier League minutes at the start of the season
  • He has spoken openly about possibly moving on from Stamford Bridge
  • He has been linked with a move to clubs across Europe, with Inter the favourites
  • He has been urged to leave by his national team manager Didier Deschamps if he wants to secure his place in the France squad for Euro 2020, which was that summer and is now...this summer

The mind - and surely Giroud's mind - boggles.

Giroud's year has come full circle | Marc Atkins/Getty Images

The 34-year-old ultimately stayed put once February rolled around and even penned fresh terms in May, but despite a hugely productive restart he finds himself in an identical position to a year ago - essentially, on the bench.

He may have been convinced to remain before, but the situation feels more terminal this time around. But while it is easy to forget as a consequence of his lengthy spells in the shadows of the dugout, Giroud is a man who has come up trumps for the Blues on the big occasion.

Despite periods of scarce game time, his three years at the club have been punctuated by clutch moments - moments that should make Chelsea think twice once again about letting the towering centre forward leave west London, especially with the jury still out on Tammy Abraham.

Here are the best of those moments, in list form.

1. Brace vs Southampton - 14/4/2018

These were Giroud's first two goals for Chelsea | James Williamson - AMA/Getty Images

Unremarkable on the face of it, but Giroud's double either side of an Eden Hazard strike hauled Chelsea to a late 3-2 victory at St Mary's in the dying embers of Antonio Conte's tenure.

The Blues' had been 2-0 down after an hour before an eight-minute salvo from Giroud and Hazard - including the Frenchman's fine winner on the half-volley - snatched all three points. Cue limbs in the away end (see above).

2. Slalom Wonder Goal vs Southampton - 22/4/2018

Southampton will be glad to see the back of Giroud if he does depart English shores.

Eight days after his heroics on the south coast, the veteran displayed his fine footwork in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, weaving between three defenders before prodding home to send the Blues on to the FA Cup final, where they'd beat Manchester United.

"Chicane isn't it, it's like a chicane," Glenn Hoddle blurts on commentary.

3. Winning Goal vs Liverpool - 6/5/2018

Giroud outjumps Dejan Lovren to score | Clive Rose/Getty Images

This remains the last time Chelsea beat Liverpool in the Premier League, and it was courtesy of Giroud's big old beautiful head.

At the time, the Reds were clinging on to a Champions League place, while Loris Karius, Nathaniel Clyne and Dominic Solanke all played a part. How times change.

4. Perfect Hat-Trick vs Dynamo Kiev - 14/3/2019

Yeah yeah, it's the Europa League - we know.

But this was less clutch and more a testament to Giroud's all-round ability, scoring with his left, right and a header on his way to finishing as the competition's top scorer with 11 and lifting the trophy in May.

He got an assist in the Ukrainian capital, too.

5. Europa League Final Masterclass vs Arsenal - 29/5/2019

'Thank you, Arsenal...' | Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

A match that epitomised what Olivier Giroud is all about, on Europe's (second) biggest stage, in the ass end of nowhere (Baku).

The Frenchman opened the scoring against his former side in the 4-1 romp with a wonderful diving header, before turning provider for Hazard to sweep home on his farewell performance with a no-look dinked cross.

Tres, tres bien.

6. Winner vs Norwich - 14/7/2020

The win left Chelsea in prime position to secure Champions League football | Marc Atkins/Getty Images

With Chelsea desperately battling to maintain their top four place, already relegated Norwich arrived at Stamford Bridge with nothing to lose and a point to prove.

It took a fine Giroud header to finally break the Canaries' resolve in added time at the end of the first half - the only goal of the game in a hugely important win for the hosts in their successful pursuit of Champions League football.

7. FA Cup Semi-Final Opener vs Man Utd - 19/7/2020

Giroud really was in fine fettle during the restart and he was at it again a few days later, squeezing the ball past a hapless David de Gea in a surprisingly comfortable (and De Gea error-ridden) win at Wembley.

Unfortunately things didn't go to plan against Arsenal in the final.

8. Goal vs Wolves - 26/7/2020

Giroud slides the ball home | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/Getty Images

Another insignificant strike on the face of it, but the race for Champions League football eventually came down to the final day of the prolonged season.

Chelsea faced a tough home fixture needing a point to secure their place at Europe's top table, but they got the job done in the space of 144 seconds at the end of the first half.

Following Mason Mount's excellent free kick, Giroud skipped around the goalkeeper, wrong-sided a defender and slid home to make it 2-0 and kill the game.

9. Last-Minute Winner vs Rennes - 24/11/2020

The latest brilliant Giroud goal at the opportune moment.

Last season, Chelsea were left to rue poor Champions League group stage results against Valencia and Ajax that consigned them to second place and an insurmountable last 16 draw with Bayern Munich.

With the Blues facing another frustrating outcome in this year's edition having been pegged back to 1-1 late on in Brittany, Giroud produced his best salmon impression in added time, and with a flick of the head sent the ball cannoning into the roof of the hosts' net, and in turn, Chelsea into the last 16 once again.

*Kisses fingers like chef*

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Source : 90min