Arsenal striker hits out at lack of playing time

 

Olivier Giroud has conceded he is frustrated by his lack of playing time for Arsenal this season.

 

The 31-year-old looked destined to leave Arsenal at the end of last season after falling down the pecking order.

 

Alexandre Lacazette’s arrival only hammered home the fact Giroud would need to move elsewhere to find regular playing time but the France international snubbed Everton to remain at the Emirates.

 

Giroud still hasn’t started a Premier League game this season but is now eyeing a more prominent role in the first-team with Lacazette set for a spell on the sidelines.

 

“Yeah because we are competitors and we want to play every single game to help the team win,” The Daily Mail quote Giroud as saying. “We want to be on the pitch, we are all competitions so that is it.

 

“We will see, I don’t know [on whether he will start against Manchester United on Saturday]. He [Wenger] has different options but I will get ready like all the other players.

 

“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, who has made 11 substitute appearances in the league this season, will fancy his chances of leading the line against United after coming off the bench to score twice against Huddersfield on Wednesday.

 

However, Wenger may also opt to play Alexis Sanchez through the middle, while Danny Welbeck is another option against his former club.

 

Giroud has scored six more goals as a substitute (12) than any other Premier League player since the start of the 2015/16 campaign.