Arsenal Slam Door on Giroud Exit

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Arsène Wenger slammed shut the door on any hopes Olivier Giroud had of leaving Arsenal in January, reports the Independent.

Sources close to the 31-year-old striker revealed at the weekend that the France international was concerned about his place in the French 2018 World Cup finals squad. Giroud has yet to start a Premier League game for the Gunners but is the joint second top scorer for the club.

The recent birth of his third child meant he would not consider a move out of London, as Everton found last summer. Crystal Palace and West Ham were monitoring the situation but Wenger was adamant that his striker will remain at Arsenal for the rest of the season.

“In your question is the answer, because you say he is important,” Wenger said, before finishing, “why should we lose an important player?”

Giroud’s key concern is a lack of playing time in the Premier League but Wenger moved to soothe those fears. “He will start more games,” Wenger said after a late Giroud salvaged a point at Southampton.

 

He is likely to start at West Ham on Wednesday night with Wenger set to shuffle his pack as Arsenal seek to get back to winning ways.