Olivier Giroud says he sees his future at Arsenal for another two or three years even though he’s voiced his concerns about lack of game time following a difficult start to the season.
Speaking to Le Figaro in his homeland ahead of his country’s World Cup qualifier against Sweden, the 30-year-old reflected on life after defeat in the final of the European Championships.
“The post-Euro period was difficult for me. I returned late compared to the others and my teammates were fit and playing. I tried to return quickly and put matches together, but I got injured.
“I was able to play and score for France in early September, but then I got hurt facing PSG at the Parc des Princes. That match cost me, what with the red card and the injury. I’ve lived through a difficult period.”
For all his frustrations, the France international, who is under contract at the Emirates until the summer of 2018, makes clear that he still feels he retains the confidence of manager Arsene Wenger.
“I see my future at Arsenal for another two or three years, the date my contract ends. I feel good here and I want to play at the highest level for as long as possible. I still feel I’ve got the gas to do it. After, for sure I’d prefer to be playing, but it will be for me to find my place.
“I have not knocked on Arsene’s office. We’ll see, I’m not worried, my time will come. He’s always supported me in the difficult times and I have every confidence he’ll keep doing so. I won’t lie, there have been times I’ve been disappointed and not happy with my situation. But the coach knows that. He’s the one who makes the choices.
“I’ll fight for my place. What’s happening today is the story of my career. It’s endless in football.
“I’m not the kind of player to give up and to demand things. Even if I don’t play all the matches, I’m sure the coach will use me. We’ll take stock at the end of the season.”
More than most players, Giroud seems to be a source of fascination for the media, both in England and abroad. Despite the attention, the striker claims it just passes him by.
“I don’t know what the critics say about me. They pass me by. I don’t read the French press, let alone the English papers and football television shows are not amongst my favourites. You know what football is like, one day you’re at the top of the game and the next, everything is questioned. It’s not just today I discovered that. It’s the reality and we just adapt. Anyway, it doesn’t affect me.”
I love Giroud. His contributions to the club will be vital this season if we are to win anything. He is strong and sharp, always fighting off opposition defenders and finding a pass or taking a shot. He offers something that Alexis, Welbeck, and Lucas don’t in terms of his link-up play because he can take so much physical punishment and draw more defenders to him without being brought down every time.
I can’t think of any other striker who could replace our HFB right now.
I’ll take Aubameyang, but he’ll cost about 80 million 🙂
Giroud was purchased for 12 million I think. Another great Wenger purchase.
Talk about attitude.
We need to get behind Giroud. I mean, like a fan does, right, as handsome as he is.
Always loved this guy. Considering we bought for around 10m. Hes been one of Arsene’s best buys. Fantastic attitude and mental strength. Keeps proving people wrong. I’m sure he’ll have a huge part to play this season
Iwobi didn’t have his best game on Saturday and I think in some games such as the NLD for example we’re better starting Sanchez on the left with Giroud up top.
Had the same thoughts but how else is iwobi to build experience and be the player he can be
Will Iwobi ever reach the 10 to 15 goals you expect from a great winger ? Not sure because Chambo when focused, plays like Iwobi but never managed to score goals regularly.
He’s going to be a vital option for us during the season.
1000% behind you Oli. Most of us appreciate the great job you do, the crap you take on and off the pitch and we adore you for it. You are the first name on my team sheet.
Following on from the likes of Henry, Bergkamp, even RVP, he arguably not the star striker who can change the game on his own.
However, as an alternate option (Plan A, ver2.0), there are probably no better.
“… let alone the English papers…” lol.
If Ibrahimovic scores the type of goals Giroud does, or holds up the ball the way Giroud does, or does a cheeky flick to link up play the way Giroud does, the media goes mental with praise. When Giroud does it ‘yeah he’s still not a world class striker.’ Well I think he is one of the best centre forwards in the league!
He is more useful to France than Pogba yet he got booed by french supporters. If you were not viewed as a golden boy at young age, you never get due recognition. The world is like that.
Love seeing the supportive comments for Giroud. The guy is a real warrior. Just look at his 2 goals with 2 touches against Sunderland. Poor opposition perhaps, but with the game on the line he delivered, as he did to help us break our trophy drought.
Couldn’t give a toss about any ex pro or journo who continue to say “he’s still not a world class striker”… to be delivering for a club like Arsenal on a weekly basis means you are in my books. How many strikers have we seen come and go?
I think he is a great striker……happy for him to stay for years, pace has never been his weapon so it won’t be as much of an issue as her gets older. He has scored some great goals for us and generally has great touch…….wish he would stop doing that thing with his fingers when he gets injured!!
Oli G is one of my favorite Arsenal players. You can criticize him all you want but there’s no doubting what he’s done for this football club! Such an important player over the last few seasons.
Good attitude good player – skill, strength, unselfish. I’ve never understood the vitriol some of our fans fling at Ollie. Except oh yeah, he’s rich, handsome, successful with a stunning wife…that’ll piss a few dudes off..!
Lovely to see comments on here that aren’t of the typical media vomit kind. Think he’s been as absolute stalwart for the Arsenal – how would others have performed given the same amount of stick, season in season out?
Real character. Cheers Oli!
‘Oli ‘Oli ‘Oli……. Giroud Almighty
Early in the morning the goals shall rise to thee……
If we were holding out to bring in a superstar striker in the next summer window, then Giroud would probably have to go. If that doesn’t happen, then I’m happy for him to stay, he’s a very good striker.
He should read this blog though. I really wonder if they do, all of them actually. Maybe they even have their own arseblog names hehehe.
We need Giroud to be firing. There is no Alexis over Giroud or Iwobi over Ox or Granit over Coquelin. They all have to be on top form and they all bring different attributes to the fight. As I mentioned before, where you hav e greater mobility with Alexis, you may also miss a presence in the box. Where you have the physical strength of GIroud you may miss a bit of pace. Its not a zero sum game. You can also have GIroud and Alexis. Two seasons ago, Alexis scored aplenty from left wing so I don’t get why… Read more »
Yeah but it does affect him
I’ll take Giroud a real Gooner that loves the club over a so called “world class” striker like errr Cavani, Ibra, Sturridge (sorry!) that are footballing nomads. The big man has some competition for his place but just watch his response on the pitch… He scores guys & plenty ! Up to our boys to supply him & he will score regularly & create too. Still not sure what world class actually means anyway?