Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud will start for France against Serbia on Monday night.

The forward, who has been Arsenal’s only goalscorer after four Premier League games, has been chosen by Didier Deschamps to start the international friendly.

As France are hosting the European Championships next summer they do not need to qualify so, while everyone else in Europe plays qualifying fixtures, they are playing friendlies which count for nothing.

Giro’s last goal for his country came in a 2-0 defeat of Denmark back in March, so he will be hoping to finally bag his 11th France goal tonight as he wins his 40th cap for his country.

All summer Arsenal were linked with Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who is on the bench with Giroud taking his place. New Manchester United signing Anthony Martial will be keeping Benzema company on the bench as he has to wait for his first France start. The teenager came on in Friday night’s win over Portugal but, despite his recent move, doesn’t play from the beginning once again.

If Martial does win his second cap then Manchester United will be counting down from 23, after it was revealed last week the club will owe Monaco a further €10m when he reaches 25 appearances for his country.

Karim Benzema and an €80m man on the bench because a guy often labelled as ‘not good enough for Arsenal’ starts in their place. Good luck tonight, Olivier! Please leave the pitch unscathed. With Danny Welbeck’s injury looking to keep him out for six months we can’t afford for Giroud to get injured.