Olivier Giroud has spoken about his relationship with Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger as one of the reasons he left the club. Giroud had fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates after the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette last August. The further addition of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January only made it even more apparent Giroud’s time at Arsenal was up.
Olivier Giroud on the last days of his Arsenal career
Giroud recently spoke about his relationship with Wenger. Although many fans would see it as verge on negative, Giroud told France Football that Wenger wanted to do his “best” to please the striker. In the end, it was offering the French international the chance to leave North London for Stamford Bridge.
“The coach immediately said to me: ‘Don’t worry, I will do my best so that you are happy’,” Giroud said.
“On one side, it was normal. I had never asked to leave.
“On the other, I knew that he would not cause problems given the relationship we had always had
“He even said to me that it would p*** him off if I did not go to Russia.”
While Giroud praised his relationship with Wenger, he also opened up about his time at Arsenal during his interview with France Football.
“It was frustrating at Arsenal obviously,” Giroud said.
“For a year and a half, it went from bad to worse.
“I could no longer continue like that.
“I could not bring myself to spend another year at Arsenal and remain a reserve, even a second reserve.
“The future looked gloomy with the arrival of a new striker.
“I wanted to become happier again by playing, so I left – it is as simple as that.”
Giroud was originally offered the opportunity to move to Borussia Dortmund as part of the Aubameyang deal. However, the birth Giroud’s third child influenced him to stay in London and join Chelsea.
“The easiest solution was to go to Dortmund,” Giroud added.
“Arsenal were happy, Dortmund as well. It was the offer most interesting financially speaking. I have a very good contract at Chelsea but Dortmund really wanted me.
“It happened after a game of poker, like in all transfers. It dragged on, I started to get stressed because my third child was born at that exact moment. That was also why I did not want to go to Dortmund.
“Spending four months without seeing him, I do not know how I could have done it. It was why, I needed to take the bull by the horns.”
Giroud is expected to play against Barcelona when the two sides meet in the Champions League.
Did Olivier Giroud make the right decision by going to Chelsea?
