Theo Walcott got off to a flying start this season, already having scored 5 goals for Arsenal (and 2 for his country) before he sustained a calf injury playing in the Capital One Cup against Sheffield Wednesday. Interestingly, it is not Walcott however who leads Arsenal in the goals-per-minute ratio, that honour goes to Olivier Giroud. The French striker has been the go-to man in Walcott’s absence and he has not disappointed.

Going into the North London Derby, Giroud has scored 8 goals for Arsenal  (he also has 2 for his country) which as you can see in the infographic below from our colleagues at Football Fanager puts him at the top of the Premier League in the goals-per-minute ratio with a goal every 88.5 minutes. The Frenchman sits ahead of Leicester’s surprise package Jamie Vardy who has a goal every 89.3 minutes in 2nd and ahead of Man City’s Sergio Aguero in 3rd who has a goal every 91.3 minutes in the Premier League. Rivals Tottenham’s supposedly hot striker, Harry Kane sits in a distant 12th place in the goals-per-minute ratio with a goal every 190 minutes played in the Premier League this season.

So Olivier Giroud is certainly delivering the goods in Theo Walcott’s absence and indeed it might be that the Englishman has a tough time regaining his place in the Arsenal starting line-up. Based on current form, it looks likely that the French striker will add to his goal tally vs Spurs on Sunday as Walcott remains injured. Arsenal will need their French striker as they look to retain at least a share of top spot with a win against an improving Tottenham side who lie in 5th under Mauricio Pochettino having not lost since opening day against Man United.