Olivier Giroud hints at signing new Arsenal contract “soon”

The Frenchman headed home the only goal of the game in the dying minutes to finally break West Brom’s resolve.

The France global has been starved of Premier League action this season due to Wenger’s preference for playing Alexis Sanchez as the central striker and he found himself in the starting team for the first time against West Brom.

“He makes always a point when he comes on because he’s scored many times when he’s come on”.

He is a valuable player to have in the squad and Arsenal would do well to tie him to new terms. He’s a fighter too, Olivier, and has a fantastic mentality. I have a big respect for him and he knows that.

It certainly wasn’t a vintage performers from the Gunners but Arsenal got the result they needed in the end, although the fans will want to see a better performance later this week against struggling Crystal Palace.

Arsene Wenger has hit out at clubs like Chelsea who “stockpile” young players and has called on the system to be revamped. So, with an abundance of options for Wenger to choose, this is Giroud’s golden chance at carving a place for himself in Wenger’s plans for the rest of the season.

And Giroud’s knack of scoring important goals will be key in their quest, according to former striker Smith, who says the France worldwide deserves to keep his starting spot.

“I don’t think you can ever switch off and it’s been proven against these two teams we’ve just played”. I’m desperately disappointed for supporters who have travelled but when you’ve got top teams and top players that’s what happens. He wasn’t fit enough to make an impact for Arsenal until well into the fall, and he’s been kept out of the starting lineup for five straight matches.

Giroud would ruin that as he met Mesut Ozil’s cross after tussling with Gareth McAuley and Wenger was quick to back the former Montpellier man.

“He [Giroud] is untypical of what Arsene believes in in many respects but he’s done well today”, said Pulis.

Wenger also talked about his players.

“So they have most probably got the staying power to see them through and it will be interesting to see what Chelsea do”.