Olivier Giroud mulling over Arsenal exit

Olivier Giroud is said to want assurances of regular playing time if he is to stay put at Arsenal in the future. The France international has reached double figures in each of his five seasons at the Emirates.

Giroud, 30, was largely confined to a super sub role in the first half of the season with Alexis Sanchez being preferred under Arsene Wenger for the centre-forward role.

Following the turn of the year, Giroud did earn himself a run in the starting lineup, but the injury return of Danny Welbeck saw him share the duties for the remainder of the campaign.

Giroud bagged France’s first hattrick since 2000 in a scintillating display against Paraguay last weekend, and he has now hinted that he could move on, should he remain a bit-part player under Arsene Wenger.

“It is true that I have had limited playing time but it was for a certain amount of time, it is true there were things against me. I will not settle for another year with such little playing time,” he was quoted as saying on Sky Sports.

Irrespective of this, Giroud insisted that he is still committed to the north London club, and hopes to lift the long-awaited Premier League title before switching to a fresh challenge.

Marseille are hot in the pursuit of the former Montpellier man, but it looks highly unlikely that he will leave Arsenal next season after agreeing to a fresh three-year deal earlier in January.

Giroud is currently on 98 goals for the FA Cup holders, and achieving the century mark would be a huge achievement for the Frenchman, who often receives criticism over the lack of speed and movement without the ball.

The 30-year-old has earned himself the cult status among the faithful following a number of occasions where he has saved the Gunners from the jaws of defeat. Giroud laid in the assist for Aaron Ramsey, who scored the FA Cup winner against Chelsea last month.

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