Arsene Wenger has said that Olivier Giroud will get more starts in the first-team, and has ruled out a move in January.

Giroud came off the bench to score yet another late equaliser and rescue a point against Southampton on Sunday. The Frenchman’s role in the Arsenal first-team has been as a super-sub.

He’s yet to start a game in the Premier League this season, as Alexandre Lacazette has taken the starting berth. That could be set to change, though, as Arsene Wenger revealed Giroud will get more games.

“He will start more games,” Wenger said, as reported by the Evening Standard. “I believe as well it’s always the same when you have many good players, some of them cannot play. 

“The question you get is always why does the guy who is good not play? Because if you take him on you have another guy who is good who will not play, it is as simple as that.”

With six more games to come in December, Giroud could get more starts as part of Wenger rotating his squad.

The 31-year-old has been linked with a move away from Arsenal so that he can get more first team football ahead of the World Cup. However, Wenger has ruled out a move in January, and wants to keep his best players at the club.

“Why should we lose an important player?” he said. “It is up to us.”

Giroud has made 13 appearances off the bench in the Premier League this season, scoring four goals. He last start in the Premier League was a 2-0 win over Sunderland last May.

Arsenal play West Ham in midweek, and could rotate their squad to cope with the busy winter schedule.