Watford v Chelsea: Can Olivier Giroud save our season starting tonight?

Under-fire Chelsea and Antonio Conte head to Watford on the Sky Sports Monday Night Football this evening with Olivier Giroud expected to start. Could the Frenchman literally save our season?

It’s a big statement to make but think about it for a second before you judge and let me explain how I believe his signing to be the catalyst to revive our challenge for second place in the Premier League, a good go at Barcelona and challenge for the FA Cup.

Ever since Roman Abramovich arrived at the club, we have identified the fact that we need a focal point up front. We signed Didier Drogba as the first of type up front, followed by Diego Costa, Alvaro Morata to a point and now Olivier Giroud.

Didier Drogba had it all he really did. He could hold the ball up, win the ball in the air, make runs in behind, bully defenders and score goals. I never ever thought we could replace him, but I was wrong because Diego Costa turned up here and took over the mantle.

Diego Costa was an almost identical fit for Chelsea because he could literally do the same as Drogba with the same impact. Two out of the three seasons he played for Chelsea he was almost unstoppable.

Alvaro Morata has come into the club and has immediately been asked to become that sort of player leading our line. He has the attributes to do so but lacks genuine game time to grow into the player we need right now and that will come with time. He still offers Chelsea fantastic quality as we have seen and we need him back from injury as soon as possible.

So to Olivier Giroud and signing for Chelsea. He is in my view the next in line to replace the likes of Drogba and Costa here because he is of the same mould. OK, granted he may not have the sustained impact at our club over a long period of time being 31 years-old but for the short-term, he is perfect for us right now.

Our play is built around having a physical focal point up front that the likes of Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian can all play off of. The give and go’s, playing the ball up to them to then make a run in behind and offering the team a genuine out-ball is something we have been lacking this season in addition to someone to bully defenders. Even someone to play the ball up to when we are under pressure and defending deep.

Olivier Giroud is underrated and under-valued in my opinion and has suffered at Arsenal. At Chelsea starting tonight he has an opportunity to prove once again that he can lead the line up top and score goals.

If he can have half of the impact that Didier Drogba and Diego Costa had here at Chelsea than surely that must be deemed as an improvement on what we already have here this year.

It’s a big ask and immediate pressure on his shoulders not having kicked a ball in a Chelsea shirt as yet but I am more than confident that he can live with it – starting tonight.

It’s a massive game with Antonio Conte under huge, increasing pressure and after a mediocre performance and result against Bournemouth we must raise our game to get three important points.

Can Olivier Giroud be the catalyst to revive our season starting tonight?