Former England and Liverpool striker Michael Owen believes Frank Lampard could end up costing Chelsea the Premier League title this season if he continues to call upon Olivier Giroud to spearhead the attack.
Following his stunning four-goal haul against Sevilla in the Champions League in midweek, Giroud was handed his first Premier League start of the season on Saturday evening, leading the Blues' forward line for Leeds United's visit to Stamford Bridge.
And Lampard's decision to hand the former Arsenal ace a rare league start paid off, as he netted his fifth goal in just two matches to draw Chelsea level, following Patrick Bamford's early opener.
The Frenchman produced a clever flick to put the ball beyond Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier, after Reece James delivered a peach of a cross from the right flank.
Despite getting his name on the scoresheet for the second game in succession, Owen believes that Giroud's presence in the starting line-up, should Lampard continue to opt for the Frenchman over Tammy Abraham, could end up costing the Blues dearly this season.
"He is an all-round player, isn’t he?," Owen told Premier League Productions. "He doesn’t set your pulse racing because he hasn’t got electric pace, he doesn’t do the exciting things.
"He doesn’t beat five players and smack it in the top corner but he’s a very, very functional player who adds so much to the team.
"He can hold the ball up, you can bounce off him, he scores goals. But hang on a minute, he has been around 10 odd years. Why did Arsenal let him go? Why have Chelsea rarely played him?
"He was close to leaving a season or so ago because there was a World Cup at the end and all these reasons, he had to start playing. A lot of top managers haven’t started him consistently.
"It’s not to say he’s a bad player but we’re talking elite, elite, elite to win the Premier League. You need one of the best few in the world."
Giroud's goal against Leeds took his tally for the season in all competitions to seven in just 11 appearances, highlighting that he still has a key role to play at Stamford Bridge.
Since joining the Blues from Arsenal back in January 2018, Giroud, 34, has netted 35 goals in 99 outings in all competitions.
