Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has ended the uncertainty over the future of Olivier Giroud citing that the Frenchman will stay put at the Emirates for the 2017/18 season.
The France international has been linked with a potential exit over the past month following a frustrating season last term where he managed just 11 top-flight starts.
Giroud came off the substitutes’ bench to bag a late winner in the 4-3 triumph over Leicester City in the Premier League opener, and shortly after, Wenger has his say on his striker’s future.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, the long-standing coach confirmed that the 30-year-old will stick with the club for the campaign after he turned down the chance to leave during the early stages of the transfer window.
“I love the man and the player. He’s a fantastic guy and he’s committed. He doesn’t want to leave and I’m happy he wants to stay. At one stage I opened the door for him as I knew I had many strikers, and in the end, he decided to stay,” he said.
Despite his limited gametime, Giroud notched 16 goals during the previous campaign, and the fans could expect the Frenchman to continue his scoring touch this term following his dramatic winner last night.
Giroud is just one goal away from entering the 100-goal at the north London giants, and this would be considered as some feat for a player, who is not the quickest on the playing field.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s emphasis will now be on keeping Alexis Sanchez with the media more intent on pushing through the player out rather than the club themselves.
Wenger has stressed that the Chilean is going nowhere for the summer, and the next few weeks will give a clear indication whether the attacker’s future lies.
