Giroud simply can't handle low crosses...there is at least one a game that he should get on the end of and at least put on target but doesn't. Most games it's 3.
a sliding tap in or just putting his foot in the way is all that is needed. Is he not brave enough to stick his leg out with all those defenders around? He is brave enough in the air.
As for Podolski...he wouldn't survive as CF in our tactic. We saw it at times last year...he simply isn't physical enough and will completely disappear if he plays up front by himself. He does best coming off wing or from a second striker position like today. This allows him to take on one defender (instead of 2 or even 3) and gives him space to make runs and fire 16-20 yard strikes (like his goal today). I really love his ability to strike the ball with power when the ball is right underneath him and he is unable to get full stride and striking mechanics.
Cazorla seems to be finding his form...his passing was heads and shoulders better and his strikes were very close compared to the ones he sailed earlier this year.
I personally don't see any reason not to play Podolski on the left (given fitness) from here on out. Cazorla/ozil/rosicky won't cut it (even though they have managed for most of our 1st place run), I really don't have a desire to see one of our CMs playing a winger position. Keep Theo/ozil rotation on right and santi/ozil rotation at attacking mid. two deeper CMs can be swapped for whatever fits the matchup best.
At the start of the season, that was exactly the kind of ball that he was scoring from. I can't actually remember him scoring the season from any other kind of cross (I'm sure he will have, I just can't remember). I don't think it is a case of bravery, it's more confidence and mainly the fact he is getting worked up when he misses. He doesn't just move on, and his constant misses at the moment seem to be playing on his mind, and he is going for brute force rather than placement, unlike when he was scoring at the start of the season. If he can score a goal or two, I reckon he'll go on another run.
And yeah, Podolski definitely can't play as a lone striker. His movement in the box is awful, and as you said he isn't strong enough to hold the ball up. For Podolski's goal, if Lukas had been the striker, he wouldn't of been able to hold the ball up like Giroud, and we wouldn't of scored.
We can't really play Ozil on the right, as A) We need Walcott to much, and B) He doesn't track back, which is what we need from our wingers. It's the same situation we had with Arshavin, fantastic player (Although obviously Ozil is better), but won't track back. At the moment, I think our best midfield is:
Podolski/Cazorla - Ozil - Walcott
Flamini - Wilshere
The downside to that, is we can't have the completely fluid midfielders like we did at the start of the season, interchanging positions. Because neither Walcott or Podolski can play in the centre, and Cazorla doesn't really fit that fluid system. He works best with everyone else staying in their position, and just him roaming. It's a dilemma for Wenger, and one we'll have to just hope he gets right!
P.S. Giroud still looks more like someone who needs another striker next to him to me. If Ozil starts tracking back, I'd love to see the days of our 4-4-2 come back, but with Giroud in the role Bergkamp played. This would allow walcott to play up front, or even better, if we buy a Higuain TYPE player in January.