Alan Shearer: Why Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud isn’t world class

Alan Shearer says Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud isn’t world class.

The France international scored either side of half-time at Anfield in the Premier League leaders’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Giroud has scored 12 goals and has made two assists in 21 Premier League games so far this season – only Odion Ighalo, Riyad Mahrez, Romelu Lukaku and Jamie Vardy have netted more times than the Gunners man.

Reflecting on Giroud’s performance against Liverpool, Shearer insisted that the 29-year-old should really be scoring at least 25 goals a season in Arsene Wenger’s side.

Shearer told BBC Sport: “I don’t think he’s world-class. In his four seasons, he is yet to hit 20 league goals. In this Arsenal team, you should be getting 25 league goals.”

The Gunners have been linked with a January transfer window swoop for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubayemang in recent weeks.

Arsenal are still top of the Premier League table but level on 43 points with second-placed Leicester City.

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Wenger’s side make the trip to Stoke City in Sunday’s late kick-off and the Gunners haven’t won at the Britannia Stadium since February 2010.