Arsenal news: Gunners can win the title thanks to impact substitute Olivier Giroud, says Thierry Henry

Giroud came off the bench on Saturday to score twice against Sunderland, and Henry says that every title-winning team needs a back-up striker capable of changing the game

Olivier Giroud's role as an impact substitute can help Arsenal win the Premier League title, says Thierry Henry (Getty)

Thierry Henry is confident that Arsenal can win the Premier League title this season after seeing Olivier Giroud prove his worth as an impact substitute in the weekend victory over Sunderland.

Arsenal have not won the title for what will be 13 years come the end of the season, with the Invincibles year of 2003/04 remaining the last time Arsene Wenger got his hands on the Premier League trophy.

Henry spearheaded that Arsenal side, who made history by going the entire Premier League season without defeat, but he now believes that Arsenal are in position to replicate their success that season during the current campaign. The Frenchman has been vocal in his criticism of Arsenal over the past two seasons after taking up a role as a pundit with Sky Sports, but he feels that having the different options of Alexis Sanchez and Giroud in attack cane ensure Arsenal are challenging for honours come the end of the season.

Speaking on Monday Night Football ahead of Stoke’s 3-1 win over Swansea, Henry said: “Yes he [Giroud] can be a plan B but I don't know if he's going to be happy coming off the bench, but I think you win a title like that right.

The 39-year-old went on to explain how past title-winning sides have always had options in attack, which enables managers to not only rotate their strikers and keep them fresh, but also make changes during matches if the first-choice forward has failed to find a breakthrough.

“[Manchester] United had [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer and [Teddy] Sheringham, [Edin] Dzeko for [Manchester] City, we had Sylvain Wiltord so can he [Giroud] accept that to do that?” Henry added.

“We know the boss, Arsene Wenger, now likes to play with Alexis Sanchez inside and he came on and did the job and he did it very well.”

Giroud came on to score with his first touch of the ball at the Stadium of Light, before adding a looping header with his second touch to put the result beyond doubt. With Sanchez, Theo Walcott and Mesut Özil providing Arsenal’s attack this season, their aerial threat has not been quite as strong as it is with Giroud in the side, and Henry was quick to praise his compatriot for his ability to score with his head that can help change games if he comes off the substitutes’ bench.

“He's amazing in the air and that gives you another option,” said Henry. “You can have Sanchez in the middle and him coming off the bench or sometimes maybe you start him and Sanchez goes back outside or Sanchez goes around him, but there is more difficult because you're playing Mesut Özil.

“I think you have a different option but that's great for the boss.”

Giroud is likely to start Arsenal’s Champions League tie in Bulgaria on Tuesday as the Gunners take on Ludogorets with the chance to qualify for the last-16 with two matches to spare. The likes of Santi Cazorla, Hector Bellerin, Nacho Monreal and Walcott will miss the clash against the Bulgarian champions, who Arsenal dispatched 6-0 at the Emirates Stadium two weeks ago, and after scoring twice on his Premier League return from injury, Giroud looks set to be handed his first start of the season.