Football
ESPN staff 7y

Arsenal forget to name Olivier Giroud on team sheet vs. Chelsea

Olivier Giroud was very nearly prevented from coming on as a substitute during Arsenal's preseason friendly against Chelsea after an administrative error saw the French striker left off the official team sheet.

Despite travelling with the team, Giroud's name was not included in the official matchday squad for the match at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing, China.

Alas, that little oversight promptly became an issue when Arsene Wenger attempted to bring on Giroud as a second-half replacement for Alexandre Lacazette.

The referee and assistants initially refused to allow Giroud to enter the action, causing mass confusion among the other players out on the pitch.

It was then left to Wenger and his kit man Vic Akers -- whose job it is to supply the team sheet to the match officials -- to argue their case.

After several minutes of heated mitigation, the officials eventually caved in and allowed Giroud to come on for Lacazette despite not technically being named in the squad.

Who says preseason friendlies are devoid of genuine incident?

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