Griezmann is a decent player but we should be aiming higher, or sorting out the centre forward first.

Gurgen wrote:

Looks a bit like a left footed Freddie. Get him in.

He is nowhere near as accomplished as Freddie was defensively.

Heard he played some good stuff for France tonight, linked up well with Giroud, found plenty of space.
Is he a wide player who stays way out wide as opposed to regularly ending up in the centre?

He does both. If the ball is on the other flank he almost every time gets in the box like a striker. He is equally comfortable going on the outside, or cutting in.

Oh, and can someone fix the topic line? Irks me that his name is wrong... 🙂

5 days later

@jeromepugmire

The way Wenger said "It's like Pires" when Griezmann scored and then drooled over his composure ... could be a busy summer for Antoine ....

@jeromepugmire

Arsene Wenger says "It's like Pires" when commentating on Griezmann's first international goal for France. Interesting comment there ....

Not the first time Wenger has talked him up

Slight deflection off the Paraguay defender. Nice goal though.

get him in. a guy that makes runs and can finish from the left would be so useful. weve had too many number 10s playing there, and theo will inevitably be crocked at some point again next season. we need to keep the goal threat alive when he's out of the team

I reckon this lad could be lethal for us.

Goals, pace, and directness off the left; he'd be great for us.

Don't think saying a finish is like Pires is a sign that we are signing hum... just means it's a Pires like finish.

Wouldn't mind him replacing Poldi, he can't be as static.

Rex wrote:

Goals, pace, and directness off the left; he'd be great for us.

Never seen him play, but he seems to have all the qualities we're looking forward.

Makes me wonder why there's not more enthusiasm for him. Is he just not that great? Or is it that he's not an exiting, hyped name?

You're just trolling now Dules.

I love Podolski to bits, but he is clearly a worse fit for us than Griezmann. I am far from certain that Griezmann would put up better numbers than Podolski, since Podolski's points to minutes played ratio is bloody excellent, but I much prefer a player who stretches defenses more.

Podolski hasn't been fully fit for a few years now. More talented player

I guess. He used to be more mobile as few years ago. These days he just doesn't move around, that's what Griezmann would give us.

Antoine Griezmann scored his first international goal for France only for the midfielder Víctor Cáceres to do likewise and earn Paraguay a 1-1 draw with an 89th-minute header in Sunday’s World Cup warm-up in Nice.
The Real Sociedad winger has impressed since recently breaking into the Franceteam and, coming on as a substitute, put them ahead in the 82nd minute with an assured finish, curling the ball into the right-hand corner after collecting it on the left side of the penalty area.
France had the majority of possession but the Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud missed several chances and failed to add to his international tally of seven after scoring twice against Norway in a 4-0 win on Tuesday.

He's a proper goal scoring winger.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/01/antoine-griezmann-france-paraguay-world-cup

"but the Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud missed several chances"

Surprising

Gurgen wrote:

I guess. He used to be more mobile as few years ago. These days he just doesn't move around, that's what Griezmann would give us.

I'd worry that though Griezmann has done well recently in Spain he's not quite athletically powerful enough for the premiership.

I'd want someone who is nimble but with better technique or a beast physically like Cuadrado

evoh wrote:

"but the Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud missed several chances"

Surprising

He had a good game. Remy was poor though. Cuadrado would be an excellent plan b to Di Maria.

I'd take Griezmann over Remy, especially if Remy's going to end up out on the left wing here.

[Video=youtube]

I've changed my mind now, I want him. The more I've seen the less he looks just a functional player that can find the back of the net and the more he looks like a player with good touch, awareness, speed and combination play, with a few outstanding attributes; his finishing, movement and acceleration. Think he'd give us more than Podolski next season

I'd take him ahead of Podolski too but not sure the upgrade is worth the hassle especially if he is going to cost 15 or 20m. Wonder what he'd be like as a striker.

Well judged Ricky 🙂
Looks like Ribery may not make it to the WC so we may get to see a lot more of Griezmann.
So far it doesn't appear that he's been out of his depth when playing for France.

Of course he'd give us more than Podolski, but that's not saying much.

Some serious underating of podolski going on here.

Don't want Griezmann. Flash in the pan flavour of the month. Payet mark deuce

Valbuena is the guy to get from that French team

Valbuena is a 29 year old midget who doesn't score.

Unless you meant sign him because it'd boost Cazorlas confidence by feeling taller than someone. If thats what you meant then its a genius psychological ploy.

@lorddulaarsenal wrote:

Some serious underating of podolski going on here.

Don't want Griezmann. Flash in the pan flavour of the month. Payet mark deuce

Valbuena is the guy to get from that French team

😆 valbuena is chit mate. one paced manlet, sif we need more of that nonsense.

admit it - you hate griezmann because he kind of looks like marco reus

Valbuena is a whiny , diving little self-centered midget . No way

He's top drawer. Excellent set piece delivery

I'd defo take him here. Best French attacker at the World Cup bar Ribery

Griezmann is a decent player. Good movement and link up play and he can score goals. However, I think we should aim higher. With Walcott on the right and Ozil in the middle, we lack "dribblers" up front. Players who can make things happen on their own. The best thing would be a player like Sanchez; good link up player, but can also create things on his own.

Still not that impressed, too similar to Podolski for my liking. Would rather keep the German if this is the case.

Griezmann is 23 and still with a lot of improvement ahead of him while Podolski is 29 and at his peak. Honestly, I'd take the 23 year old Griezmann over Podolski right now, since I think he is better suited to us, and the younger player will easily surpass Podolski's best.

Griezmann is nothing like Podolski either. He is a lot pacier, much better 1v1, links play better, is a lot more mobile, and is a lot more willing to make runs in behind the back 4. Podolski has a better shot and is the better finisher, but it isn't like Griezmann is a poor finisher by any means; it just means that Podolski is an exceptional finisher.

We have a Griezmann "type" wide player in Walcott and Podolski, we don't however have a wide player who is a powerful dribbler, which is why we should go for either Di Maria or Cuadrado or players like that.