Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring the first goal (Photo: Action Images via Reuters)
Gunners' striker, Olivier Giroud has affirmed he is ready to sign a contract extention after a heart-to-heart with Arsene Wenger.
Giroud, whose current deal expires in 2018, admits he was disturbed about his Arsenal future after being left frustrated by a lack of play time this season.
Giroud has struggled with injury, Alexis Sanchez has become The Gunner’s main striker and the France international did not make his first Premier League start until Boxing Day.
But despite his frustrations, Giroud made it clear that he is ready to commit his future to The Emirates and fight for his place after being given assurances by Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger.
Giroud, 30, said: “People have been saying I have signed a new contract. It is not true but maybe soon.
“I came back a bit late from the Euros and it was nice for my body because I could rest but not good for me because the team was doing well and another striker was doing well up front.
“This season has been difficult because also I was injured for a month and a half so it hasn’t been easy.
“But it is all about keeping the focus high. Always keep working hard at training. I was speaking with the boss, we had a couple of discussions together and he explained to me why I hadn’t played too much until now.
“But football is an everlasting new beginning, as I used to say, and you always have to keep focused and wait for your time. This time I played, I tried to give everything for the team and hopefully things will change for me.
“But as long as the team is getting better, I am happy and I am part of the club for five years and I want to carry on. But we have to see, I need more time of games but we will see in the future.”
Wenger is hopeful that Olivier Giroud and Francis Coquelin will sign new deals to take their contracts up to four and five years respectively.
Laurent Koscielny is also expected to sign a contract extension but his current one does not expire until 2019.
Giroud marked his first Premier League start of the season with the winning goal against West Brom and admits it would have been unthinkable for them to slip further behind in the title race.
But Giroud is now hoping for a run in the team and says Arsenal have enough spirit to cover ground on table-toppers, Chelsea.
Giroud added: “It’s been a tough time for me but I’m very happy for the team because we really needed the win. The best thing is to keep within distance of Chelsea.
“I don’t want to talk too much about me but it was a big day for me, but a turning point for the team because if we didn’t win we would have been in trouble.
“For me, it was physically hard because it has been more than one month since I started a game. I think we have shown big strength and physicality. If you are a bit down, you have to be stronger mentally.”
Giroud will be hoping to keep his place against Crystal Palace on New Year’s Day, especially as Theo Walcott’s calf injury is likely to keep him out for another ten days.
Left back, Kieran Gibbs will hope to be fit to face Palace after limping off after he collided knees and it is not thought to be serious.
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