Former Arsenal star sets unprecedented record in European competition

Ex-Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has made history by becoming the oldest player to score as a substitute in European competitions, netting the decisive goal for Lille in the Europa League.

Olivier Giroud continues to demonstrate his class and endurance in the twilight of his career by scoring the winning goal that secured Lille’s 2-1 victory over Brann in the Europa League group stage. Notably, with this goal, the former Arsenal and Chelsea forward became the oldest player (38 years, 360 days) to score after coming off the bench in UEFA Cup/Europa League history.

The match was full of drama. After a goalless first half, Hamza Igamane broke the deadlock for Lille in the 54th minute with a close-range finish following a well-timed run. However, just minutes later, Saevar Magnusson equalized for Brann with a neat strike. As the game remained tightly contested, Giroud, who had just entered the field, made a timely impact. In the 80th minute, he positioned himself perfectly and rose high to head in a cross from Tiago Santos, sealing a 2-1 win for the French side.

This goal not only secured three valuable points but also confirmed Giroud’s strong comeback. Joining Lille in July after an underwhelming spell at Los Angeles FC (just 5 goals in 37 games), the 38-year-old striker quickly adapted to Ligue 1, a league he had been away from for 13 years. So far, Giroud has scored 3 goals in just 5 official matches for his new club, proving that the goal-scoring instincts of this former “killer” remain sharp.

This achievement is even more significant as Giroud is just days away from turning 39. He is not only the top scorer in the history of the French national team but now also holds a special record in European competitions. This stands as clear evidence of his perseverance, professionalism, and ability to maintain top form as one of the most durable forwards of his generation.

With the full three points, Lille temporarily leads their group and will continue their Europa League campaign with an away match against Roma on October 2nd. Meanwhile, Brann will return home to face Utrecht. All eyes are now on Lille’s collective performance, as well as how many more milestones Giroud will break in his already illustrious career.