38yo former Arsenal striker scores 2 in 2 for new club, hits 350 career goals | OneFootball

Olivier Giroud has made an immediate impact back in Ligue 1, scoring twice in his first two matches for Lille at the age of 38, more than a decade after leaving Montpellier for Arsenal.

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Giroud struck just 11 minutes into his debut against Brest, becoming the oldest goalscorer in Lille’s history in what finished as a 3-3 draw.

He followed that by delivering a stoppage-time winner against Monaco, his 350th career goal, sealing a 1-0 victory in Lille’s first league win of the season.

Giroud also won a penalty in added time but missed from the spot, sending the ball over the bar.

His return to France has been greeted warmly by supporters and the media alike. Giroud has impressed not only with his finishing but with the traits that defined his career at the highest level: hold-up play, aerial dominance, intelligent movement and leadership.

Lille’s staff have already praised his professionalism and the seamless way he has integrated with his new teammates.

For Arsenal fans, his form is another reminder of a forward whose six years in north London produced 105 goals in 253 appearances, three FA Cups, and the unforgettable Puskás Award-winning scorpion kick against Crystal Palace.

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He left in 2018 as the club’s 18th-highest scorer, moving on to win trophies at Chelsea and AC Milan before a short stint in MLS with Los Angeles FC.

On the international stage, Giroud retired as France’s record scorer with 57 goals in 137 appearances, helping them lift the 2018 World Cup.

His continued productivity for Lille shows why he remains one of the game’s most durable strikers. Two matches into his latest chapter, Giroud is once again proving he still has the ability to decide games at the highest level.

His total trophy haul reads: 1 Champions League, 1 World Cup, 2 league titles (Italy and France), 1 Europa League, 1 UEFA Nations League, 4 FA Cups, and 1 US Open Cup.

Not bad for a player widely regarded by many, who should know better, as a ‘flop’.