Arsenal boss reveals ‘fantastic’ Giroud will stay
Arsenal's Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring his side's fourth goal of the game during the Premier League match at The Emirates Stadium, London. - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger praised matchwinner Olivier Giroud after his late winner clinched three points for the Gunners in a thrilling opener to the Premier League season.
Giroud, who had been the subject of interest from Everton and West Ham earlier in the summer, won the game with his 99th goal for Arsenal with only minutes remaining.
It was the perfect way to seal an enthralling game that had threatened to end in defeat for the home side.
However the Frenchman had other ideas and headed the team into the lead after fellow substitute Aaron Ramsey had equalised in the 84th minute after a Jamie Vardy brace had put the Foxes 3-2 up on 56 minutes.
Wenger insisted matches like this incredible curtain raiser are what helps the top level of English to be the world’s most entertaining league – but it was Giroud that he saved his most fulsome praise for.
He said: “At some stage it didn’t look like we’d win. The spirit of the team was absolutely outstanding.
“I’m convinced the team is focused. I see that every day in training. It’s fantastic Giroud wants to stay – he decided to stay.
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“It was a relief Giroud decided to stay.”
In a separate pitch-side interview he added: “I love Giroud the player. And I love Giroud the man.”
When pressed if the forward could leave before the end of the transfer Wenger responded emphatically: “No. I say a determined no.”
He also hailed record signing Lacazette who became the seventh Arsenal player to score on his Premier League debut.
Wenger added: “He is getting stronger. He is adapting to the way we want to play. He’s an intelligent player.”
