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Wenger blow: Forward confirms he’s considering leaving Arsenal in January

By mac14 on December 11, 2017

Olivier Giroud has delivered a blow to Arsene Wenger after confirming he’ll consider his future at Arsenal during the January transfer window.

Giroud has lost his starting position to summer signing Alexandre Lacazette and has been consigned to impact roles from the bench in the league this season.

The French international is yet to start a Premier League game but proved his worth as a squad player after coming on as a late substitute to score the equaliser during our 1-1 draw at Southampton.

It was Giroud fourth goal off the bench in the league while he’s also got 3 in his 6 Europa League starts so his goal return is very good considering the amount of minutes he’s playing.

The 31-year-old came close to leaving last summer but pulled the plug on a proposed move to Everton and Giroud has now suggested he would have gone had better offers been on the table.

Understandably, the rumour mill is once again linking the striker with a move this winter but Wenger insisted at the weekend that he won’t allow any of his players to leave if he feels they are needed during the second half of the season.

However, it looks like Giroud might test that stance as the forward has now confirmed he will consider his options in January as he looks to secure his place in the France World Cup squad.

Giroud says Didier Deschamps has made it clear he needs to be playing more games if he’s going to make his squad and the striker is determined to be on the plane to Russia next summer.

Giroud is quoted as saying by the Mirror:

“The World Cup, I have it in my head every week, almost every day. Every time I go on the pitch, it is to be the most efficient with the objective of the World Cup.”

“He [Deschamps] has told me things he had said before, which is totally logical and which I understand. He wants me to play more.

“If I couldn’t leave this summer, it was because of the opportunities that I had. I did not leave to leave.

“But it is sure that at the end, even in January, it is again going to be necessary to ask myself the question.

“It will not be easy to find the right solution and take the right decision. But we will study the opportunities.”

It’s going to be interesting to see how this situation plays out and it’s a difficult one for all concerned. Obviously Giroud wants to be playing regularly to ensure he makes the French squad but Wenger needs to put Arsenal’s interest first.

If a top club comes in for Giroud then no doubt he’ll push for a move but I can’t see Wenger letting him go unless we can secure a suitable replacement, which won’t be easy in January.