Olivier Giroud has had enough of warming the Arsenal bench, writes the Daily Mirror, and has told Arsene Wenger he wants to move on in the new year.
The Gallic goalscorer, who saved Arsenal’s blushes against Southampton yesterday with a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw, has been reduced to a peripheral figure at the Emirates in the last year, a super sub who is no longer commands a regular start at Arsenal.
Despite the fact he does usually score on his few opportunities, Giroud can’t force his way into the starting line-up and he’s therefore decided the time is right for a fresh challenge.
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The Mirror says that the 31-year-old French frontman wants to remain in London, where his wife is expecting their third child, and West Ham and Crystal Palace are both “on alert”.
The paper quotes a source saying: “Olivier does not want to disturb and uproot his family. Ideally, he wants to stay but he needs football - there are options in London.”
Giroud, whose strike against the Saints drew him level with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for the most goals by a substitute in Premier League history, will make his decision based on which club can promise him regular football, a necessity as he looks to win a place in France’s World Cup squad next summer.
However, the Evening Standard reports that the rumours have so rattled Wenger that when asked about Giroud’s future following yesterday’s match, he insisted not only would he remain at the club but “he will start more games”.
Facing a similar predicament, reports Metro, is Jack Wilshere, who like his French teammate has found game time hard to come by at the Emirates this season.
Desperate to feature for England in the World Cup, the midfielder has admitted he is also thinking about the future. “It’s not just now I want to play - I have been wanting to play for ages,” said Wilshere. “I have spoken to the manager and he knows I want to play in the Premier League. I also have to respect that the team has been playing well.”
Really? The 1-1 draw to Southampton leaves the Gunners outside the top four and Wilshere and Giroud may consider themselves entitled to ask what they have to do to break into a struggling team.
