Olivier Giroud will not be taking part in Sunday’s game against Liverpool, but the frontman has been speaking to the press in France about his aims for the upcoming season.

With Arsenal heading into that game with Alexis Sanchez likely deployed as a centre forward and no new striker looking like he’s even close to a move, Giroud’s return to match fitness after the Euros cannot come quick enough.

“We want to win the Premier League for many years,” Giroud told SFR Sport 1. “We built the team.

MARSEILLE, FRANCE - JUNE 15:  Olivier Giroud of France looks dejected following a missed chance during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group A match between France and Albania at Stade Velodrome on June 15, 2016 in Marseille, France.  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
MARSEILLE, FRANCE – JUNE 15: Olivier Giroud of France looks dejected following a missed chance during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group A match between France and Albania at Stade Velodrome on June 15, 2016 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

“We want to bring it to the club. I hope after the slump that we had earlier this year, we will negotiate it better

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 03:  Olivier Giroud of France celebrates scoring his team's fifth goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between France and Iceland at Stade de France on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France.  (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE – JULY 03: Olivier Giroud of France celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter final match between France and Iceland at Stade de France on July 3, 2016 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

“This is often what happens in March. I hope we will start strong and finish strong.”

It is easy to forget, in all the turmoil and change that is around in the Premier League at the minute, that Arsenal finished second last season, with nobody able to stop Leicester’s fairy-tale.

METZ, FRANCE - JUNE 04: Olivier Giroud of France celebrates his team's second goal during the International Friendly between France and Scotland on June 4, 2016 in Metz, France. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)
METZ, FRANCE – JUNE 04: Olivier Giroud of France celebrates his team’s second goal during the International Friendly between France and Scotland on June 4, 2016 in Metz, France. (Photo by Daniel Kopatsch/Getty Images)

It’s also easy to believe that we aren’t ready for this season, that we haven’t improved, and that we are doomed to failure.

But on the eve of our kick-off, it might also be worth reminding yourself that we *did* finish second and have added Granit Xhaka and Rob Holding to the team, with a few weeks of the window still left to go.

Perhaps it really isn’t as bad as many would have you believe, eh?