Arsene Wenger has said that Olivier Giroud is needed at Arsenal next season, amid interest from West Ham United and reported qualms about a lack of playing time.
- Wenger wants Giroud to stay but West Ham are keen on his signature
- Giroud could leave this summer to find more first team football
- He started just 11 Premier League games last season
Giroud lost his starting place last season as Alexis Sanchez proved prolific up front, while the mobility of Danny Welbeck was preferred in the final two months of last season.
As a result, the Frenchman started just 11 Premier League games and is believed to be looking for a move away.
West Ham, Lyon and Marseille have been linked with a move for him, but Wenger has said that he needs Giroud at Arsenal next season.
“It has been a frustrating season for him because he has not played a lot. And when he has played well, he has not always played the next match,” reports the Mirror.
“He has won us a lot of points when he has come on because he has scored lots of times. He has qualities that our team need.”
Despite the 30-year-old’s lack of minutes last season, Giroud still scored and created 15 goals in the Premier League, averaging one every 80 minutes.
His height and aerial prowess make him a handful for defenders and gives Arsenal a target to hit when they’re chasing goals.
It’d be difficult to find another back-up striker as prolific as Giroud, so it’s easy to see why Wenger would want to keep him.
Nonetheless, saying Arsenal need him is one thing. Being able to give him the minutes he wants is another.