Arsenal should not regret letting Olivier Giroud move to Chelsea as the Frenchman “ showed up more in big games than Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, ” according to Darren Bent.
The Gunners and Chelsea have a long history of player-sharing during the Premier League era.
Olivier Giroud scored a superb bike kick against Atletico Madrid
Ashley Cole moved to Stamford Bridge and won numerous trophies with the Blues.
Several players in the later stages of their careers moved to North London, including Petr Cech, David Luiz and Willian.
Giroud was sold by Arsenal in 2018 for £ 18million in order to bring Aubameyang to the Emirates.
Although largely a replacement for Chelsea, Giroud has scored some important goals for the Blues.
Nothing more than his superb bike kick to seal a 1-0 victory for the Blues against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Former Tottenham, Charlton and Aston Villa Bent forward, who is also an Arsenal fan, believes even in hindsight it was the right move.
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Giroud has scored 144 goals for Arsenal and Chelsea
“For some reason Arsenal and Chelsea seem to be making these crazy deals. Unfortunately every time we seem to let a player go from Arsenal to Chelsea he wins the lot, ”Bent told talkSPORT.
“When the players come from the other side of Chelsea to Arsenal… terrible. Many of them are terrible.
“You watch Willian’s performance. He was horrible. David Luiz has been all over the blunder.
“Giroud is probably the one Arsenal fans would have gone to.” I wish he hadn’t gone to Chelsea. “
“If there had been a choice between Chelsea or Spurs, because Spurs were for him, I guarantee the fans would have said ‘send him to Chelsea’. I’d rather he go to Chelsea than to Spurs.
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Aubameyang has scored 81 goals in 134 games for Arsenal
“When he left he scored seven goals that season in all competitions. You let Giroud go because Aubameyang was coming.
“You are watching Aubameyang in Dortmund and I don’t think there is a fan in the country who would disagree with this deal.
“Does he offer more than Aubameyang?” Of course, he holds the ball well and is a focal point. He shows up in pretty much every big game.
“Aubameyang clearly didn’t. People will be talking about the FA Cup final and semi-final, these are probably his two biggest games for Arsenal.
“As for letting him go to Chelsea, I think it was the right time. I know it’s a step back now from what he did with the World Cups and European trophies and what he did last night.
“I still don’t think the majority of Arsenal fans would say ‘we made a mistake in letting him go’ because of what was to come.”
