With Olivier Giroud’s Arsenal contract set to run out in 18 months, reports have already started to do the rounds regarding his future in north London.

While some suggest that the France international has already signed a new deal, others claim that he’s choosing to leave in order to get regular football elsewhere.

Speaking after sealing a much-needed Arsenal win against West Brom on Boxing Day, our 86th-minute goalscorer revealed that although he is yet to put pen to paper, he could sign at some point.

“People have been saying I have signed a new contract,” he said.

“It is not true but may be soon.

“It is all about keeping the focus high. Always keep working hard at training,” he said. “I was speaking with the boss, we had a couple of discussions together and he explained to me why I hadn’t played too much until here. But football is an everlasting new beginning, as I used to say, and you always have to keep focused and wait for your time.

“Today I played, I tried to give everything for the team and hopefully things will change for me. But as long as the team is getting better I am happy and I am part of the club since five years and I want to carry on. But we have to see, I need more time of games but we will see in the future. The best thing is to keep within distance of Chelsea.”

Well, that clears that up then… Not.

Obviously, the 30-year-old isn’t going to happily snap up any contract Arsenal throw at him. Not publicly at least since he’s entering the latter stages of his career and needs leverage if he’s going to get a decent deal.

Olivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion at Emirates Stadium on December 26, 2016 in London, England.

Not only this but the striker wants to play and, since falling behind Alexis Sanchez in the pecking order and sustaining a toe injury early on in the campaign, Giroud has only played a total of 260 minutes in the Premier League. That’s 4.3 full games out of 11 appearances.

You can understand why he perhaps needs reassurance.

What is comforting to hear is that he is happy, which backs up what his agent, Michael Manuello, said recently, “He’s great with the Gunners. He wants to end this season with the Londoners.

“We are not going to move in the next session of the market.”

Hopefully, the club, Giroud and his people can reach a conclusion; it would be a shame to see him leave.