Olivier Giroud, once again, has borne the brunt of fans criticism. On Monday night he was booed off the pitch while playing for France.

It seems the big striker is a magnet for abuse, and almost always from his own supporters, whether he is playing for club or country.

And yet Giroud is a superb footballer, picked consistently to lead the line for an elite club and a top international side. So why all the hate?

Olivier Giroud shows his disappointment after missing a chance for France against Serbia on Monday

The French striker was booed off the pitch when he was replaced by Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema

First, a caveat. It's not difficult to be booed by a French crowd. Fans of Les Bleus are so notoriously fickle that they make Fabian Delph look decisive, and so often negative about their own team that, in comparison, the Bernabeu is a welcoming environment for an under-performing player.

And, despite the stick Giroud gets from Arsenal fans, the worst offenders tend to be those rarely at the ground. Week in, week out he attracts not-so-occasional moans and groans, but almost never actual booing at the Emirates.

Nonetheless, it is clear that the perception of Giroud among his own fans is far lower than that of his team-mates and managers.

Arsene Wenger, as good a judge of a French forward as anyone, has shown great faith in his target man, while Didier Deschamps continues to pick him - often ahead of Real Madrid's Karim Benzema.

It's not as if Deschamps lacks options - the France boss had £37m teenager Anthony Martial alongside Benzema on the bench against Serbia, while Alexandre Lacazette, the highest scorer in France last season, promising forward Nabil Fekir and Chelsea man Loic Remy were all out of the squad. Yet Giroud remains first choice.

Giroud has had a tough time of things at the start of the season, finding the net just once for club and country

The French striker has been a crucial player for Arsenal since he joined in 2012, and remains first choice

OLIVIER GIROUD LEAGUE STATS Year Goals Games Arsenal points Arsenal position 2012-13 11 34 73 4th 2013-14 16 36 79 4th 2014-15 14 27 75 3rd

While critics point out that, as on Monday, he spurns presentable chances, they ignore what his managers, at every level, have seen.

Giroud is much more than just goals. He links the play, holds up the ball, makes intelligent runs to help his team-mates, and offers an outlet.

At Arsenal this becomes increasingly obvious in his absence. When Theo Walcott, a very different sort of forward, leads the line, the Gunners have the pace in behind that they lack with Giroud up top.

But they are not much more successful, because they have so much less possession without their French target man.

Giroud holds the ball up brilliantly, offering an outlet when the team is under pressure, before laying it off for a colleague.

The big striker does not score as often as some forwards, but his hold-up play is vital for Arsenal and France

With a good touch and a great physical presence, Giroud makes the game easier for those around him

The ball sticks when it is played long to him, and while he will never press with the urgency of an Alexis Sanchez, or terrify defenders with the pace of Walcott or Danny Welbeck, he does occupy centre halves, leaving Arsenal's midfield runners - their squad's obvious strength - a chance to attack.

It should be obvious to anyone who watches Arsenal that the team are better with Giroud than without him, but don't take my word for it - the statistics bear it out.

Last season Giroud was out for a long stretch with a horrible injury, and Arsenal suffered. He returned, and they improved.

All in all, in the 36 games he was involved in, Arsenal won 24 (a win ratio of 67 per cent) and lost just five (14 per cent). Without the Frenchman, the win ration fell to just 50 per cent, with 25 per cent of the games being defeats.

It has been a similar story since he joined the club in 2012. Two years ago he was involved in almost every game, but the win ratio was still marginally higher (61 per cent) with him than without (60 per cent).

It was even starker in 2012-13, when the Gunners won 61 per cent of games the Frenchman started, compared to just 40 per cent without him.

When Arsenal start the likes of Theo Walcott up front on his own they can struggle to return possession

Giroud has helped Arsenal end their trophy drought with back to back FA Cups

Clearly, that is not the record of someone who is causing harm to their team.

It is also worth noting how much of a more all-round team the Gunners have become since Giroud arrived at the club.

Remembering back three seasons is not something many of his critics are prepared to do, but, with Robin van Persie - clearly a more accomplished individual - leading the line, Arsenal were phenomenally one dimensional.

Everything went through the Dutchman, who needed the ball on the floor to play his pretty football. It was a delight to watch, and Van Persie scored plenty of goals, but Arsenal won nothing, and played poorer football.

The introduction of Giroud in his place gave Wenger the 'Plan B' fans had been calling out for for years (because remember, whatever Wenger does, there will always be something else that Arsenal fans have been crying out for for years!).

Suddenly they could go long when required, could fire throw-ins down the line and have someone hold them up, while they still had a forward good enough around the edge of the box to turn the ball round the corner for onrushing midfielders with a surprisingly delightful array of touches.

Robin van Persie was a more talented player, but Arsenal are a better side for having Giroud up front

The French striker misses chances, frustrating fans, but his scoring record stands at a goal every two starts

Wenger has brought in great personnel around him, but Giroud helps make the likes of Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil, Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey look good.

Of course, some people will obsess over the missed chances, and point only to his scoring record. But, actually, even that isn't so bad.

Since signing for Arsenal, Giroud has scored 42 league goals in 84 Premier League starts - a ratio of exactly one in two. That is not to be sniffed at.

Sure, it's not up there with Sergio Aguero or Diego Costa. Giroud is not world class, and few would even begin to argue that he is.

The Frenchman remains a favourite with his Arsenal manager, and compatriot, Arsene Wenger

Fans should recognise, as Wenger does, that Giroud has made Arsenal a better, and more successful, team

But it is still the sort of goalscoring record that most players would kill for - and almost exactly matches Manchester United and England captain Wayne Rooney, who has 170 in 316 starts.

So we are not talking about a sort of modern-day Emile Heskey, who was loved by his team-mates for his hold-up play but had a hit-rate worthy of a blind assassin.

Instead, Giroud is a cultured, talented forward, one who offers his side a central focus, without demanding to be the centre of attention.

Yes, he misses chances - all forwards do. But he also possesses that rarest of attributes, one which should be treasured - the ability to make those around you perform better.