Jamie Redknapp says Olivier Giroud is ‘too good’ to be used as a super-sub by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
The France striker scored a dramatic late winner against Leicester City on Friday as the Gunners’ started the 2017-18 season with a victory.
Wenger’s side had been trailing 3-2 with just seven minutes remaining but Aaron Ramsey and Giroud ensured the hosts sealed a surprising win.
Giroud only started 11 league games last season and appears set for another back-up role during the 2017-18 campaign.
Alexandre Lacazette was signed as Wenger’s first-choice striker earlier in the summer and has impressed following his £52m move to the Emirates.
But Redknapp believes Giroud is too good to sit on the Arsenal bench and admits Wenger has a difficult job to keep his attackers happy.
‘It was interesting to see Olivier Giroud look down his nose at suggestions he is a supersub after his winner for Arsenal,’ Redknapp told the Daily Mail.
‘Giroud is too good to be an impact man from the bench. He is behind Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez and Arsene Wenger has a job on his hands to keep all his strikers happy.
‘Giroud can remain a super-sub but it’s a waste of his talents.’
Wenger insisted he ‘loves’ Giroud after the Leicester win but admits he gave him the opportunity to leave earlier in the summer.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Gunners boss said: ‘I love the man and the player. He is a fantastic guy and he is committed and loves the club.
‘He doesn’t want to leave. At one stage I opened the door for him because he knew I had many strikers.
‘He is loved here and we are very happy he decided to stay.’
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