Olivier Giroud is ready to step in for the injured Alexandre Lacazette against Manchester United on Saturday if Arsene Wenger needs him.

Giroud replaced Laca at half-time during Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Huddersfield mid-week and the striker has made it clear that he’s ready to step up again if Wenger needs him against Manchester United.

“Yeah (it’s frustrating not to get played) because we are competitors and we want to play every single game to help the team win,” said the striker.

“We want to be on the pitch, we are all competitors so that is it.”

He continued, “We will see, I don’t know (if I will start against United). He (Wenger) has different options but I will get ready like all the other players.

Olivier Giroud has scored 3 league goals in just 220 minutes this season – that’s 1 every 73 minutes!

“Yes (some players from the Europa League team do deserve a chance in the league), but at the moment the Premier League team is doing well.

“We have the chance to have two good teams because we have got a good squad and everyone tries to step up and give his best for the team.

“We are enjoying playing together in Europe but obviously we all want to play in the Premier League as well so when the boss wants to put us on the pitch we try to give our best and bring our small cog to the big machine.”

Giroud scored a brace against the Terriers and his strength, combined with height, could do well against United’s tall defence. However, as the 31-year-old points out, the boss has other options and Alexis Sanchez starting up top looks very likely despite the Chilean not putting in the best performance mid-week.

giroud huddersfield
(BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images)

You can understand why Giroud must get frustrated. Although he can’t have any complaints about Laca getting the nod over him in league games, when Alexis continues to get picked despite playing as if he’s never seen a football before, he probably questions what he has to do.

Although Alexis found the back of the net late on Wednesday, he was far from impressive in the first half and most of the second.

Giroud’s stats were probably a little flattering on Wednesday, but at least he still had six shots, which was more than anyone else on the pitch.

The Frenchman is yet to make a single Premier League start this season but I imagine that Wenger will argue he’s too useful coming off the bench to get his first on Saturday.