Abraham or Giroud? Alan Shearer reveals the striker Lampard should start against Arsenal
Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer believes Tammy Abraham’s brace in the 3-0 victory over West Ham on Monday night has earned him the right to keep his place against Arsenal on Boxing Day.
Olivier Giroud has been in a rich vein of form in recent weeks but Lampard opted to start Abraham against West Ham and the England international responded with a brace against West Ham.
Asked whether Abraham should start versus the Gunners, Shearer told Premier League Productions: “He has to.
“When you’re a striker, to have scored two when the manager is practically begging you to that because he’s putting you in and you’ve got to go and prove a point, you can’t then leave him out for the next game when he’s full of confidence.
“He’ll want the game tomorrow, four days will be too long for Tammy Abraham now because of how he’s feeling.”
Shearer added: “It was a big decision and the decision has worked really well for Frank and for Tammy because when you’re given the opportunity again to go in, bearing in mind how big Giroud in terms of a personality, what he’s done in his career and what he can do.
“So when you’re given another opportunity, you’ve got to go in there, you’ve got to make a point. “There’s no better way of making that point than putting the ball in the back of the net.
“And doing it twice, as he has done, confidence-wise, that’ll do him the world of good.”