Arsenal people ‘accountable’ for letting ‘brilliant player’ leave – Cole
Joe Cole thinks someone has to be held “accountable” at Arsenal for allowing Olivier Giroud leave the club and move to Chelsea.
The Frenchman scored 105 times in 253 appearances for the Gunners during his six seasons at the club, before moving across London to join rivals Chelsea in 2017.
Since then Giroud has scored 34 goals in 98 matches, with his four-goal haul in their recent 4-0 victory over Sevilla a particular highlight.
FEATURE: One per Premier League club: Disappointments of the season
And it was that performance that got Cole talking about his time at Arsenal, with the former Chelsea midfielder claiming it was a mistake to allow him to leave three years ago.
“Giroud is outstanding. Some people at Arsenal behind the scenes have to be accountable for letting him go. Was it age? But then they signed Willian and David Luiz,” Cole told the Daily Mirror.
“He’s a brilliant player, was for Arsenal, is now for Chelsea and he’s a model pro, a manager’s dream.”
Chelsea were already through to the knockout stages before their brilliant result against Sevilla and Cole can see them going all the way this season.
“Frank won’t thank me for saying this, but they can win everything,” Cole added.
“If you’re an Arsenal, you can’t win the league. Nor Leicester. Chelsea are in the mix of three or four teams who can win the Premier League and five or six who can win the Champions League.
“It’s a better team than when they won the Champions League in 2012. Frank’s putting together a better team and that’s a big credit to him.
“They’re looking like a team, they’ve got the makings of a great team.
“I can see the winner of the Premier League coming from Chelsea, Spurs or Liverpool.
“Chelsea have got a massive chance. They’ll be there or thereabouts. I can’t say for sure they will do it but, in my opinion, they’re as good as the other two.
“It’ll be one of those three.”