Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is currently with the French World Cup squad in Brazil

Published: 12 June, 2014
by STEVE BARNETT

OLIVIER Giroud has revealed that he expects to have to fight for his place at Arsenal when he returns to north London after the World Cup. 

The striker, who is busy preparing for France’s opener against Honduras on Sunday, is confident that manager Arsene Wenger will add at least one world-class forward to the Gunners’ squad while he is away on international duty. 

Having scored 22 goals in all competitions last term, Giroud is confident that he can compete with any new arrivals. 

“I can tell you Arsenal will add a striker to the team,” he said. “We need another striker. Great clubs have several good strikers, who compete with each other.” 

It seems odds on that the first forward Giroud is likely to face competition from is former Gunner Carlos Vela. The Mexican striker endured a difficult spell at the Emirates before being shipped out to Real Sociedad in 2011. But having scored 16 goals in 34 appearances last season, Arsenal are reportedly ready to activate a buy-back clause that could see them bring Vela back to north London for £3.5million. 

Sociedad president Jokin Apperibay, however, insists that Vela wants to stay at the Spanish club rather than return to the FA Cup winners. Apperibay, who travelled to London earlier this week to negotiate a deal with Arsenal, said, “We are fortunate that the player is keen to stay in San Sebastian with us and that’s an important factor for Real Sociedad.” 

The president also explained that the two clubs were yet to reach an agreement for the player, who the Gunners originally signed in 2005 from boyhood club Guadalajara.