Olivier Giroud will have no regrets when he walks back into Emirates Stadium for the first time since leaving Arsenal. The end of this month marks the anniversary of his surprise transfer to rivals Chelsea for £18million.
The striker moved in order to get more first-team football but has made just 20 starts over the past 12 months. Any hope that statistic will improve is surely gone as Chelsea aimed to bring in Gonzalo Higuain on loan from Juventus this week.
It was not easy for Giroud to walk away from a club he grew to love after joining from Montpellier in 2012, but he still believes the end has justified the means. “People understand why I had to move,” he explained. “It was not my choice but it was a great opportunity for me to show my determination to carry on playing in the Premier League, especially for a big club like Chelsea.
“I settled well, we won the FA Cup and I had an opportunity to play more than when I was at Arsenal. After that, I had a good World Cup with France, so for me it was definitely a good choice to leave.
“But Arsenal fans don’t forget what you have done. They were amazing years, I improved a lot. I owe them a lot. It will be a great moment for me to go back.”
Unlike Cesc Fabregas, who was booed on every occasion he played against his former club, Giroud is expected to get a warm reception.
While perhaps not quite completely living up to expectations, the 31-year-old provided plenty of highlights. Asked for his favourite, he replied: “The scorpion kick against Crystal Palace (in 2017). That was the best goal in all my career, but I also remember the good team spirit we had, the six trophies we won.
“Will I celebrate if I score against them? No, I’m not like that. It will be special for me if I get the chance to play. If I score, I will respect everyone.”
Despite his new allegiance, Giroud has been an interested observer as his old side have tried to adapt under new coach Unai Emery. Things were looking promising after the Gunners went on an unbeaten run lasting 22 matches, but some old weaknesses have returned, causing them to lose four of their last eight fixtures.
Suddenly, the Spaniard is coming under scrutiny, with former midfielder Emmanuel Petit questioning why Arsenal got rid of Wenger. But Giroud said: “I think he has settled well. I’ve been talking to the boys there and they say they are very happy with him.
“He is a competitor, he wants to improve his players and they are very pleased with his philosophy of how he wants the game to be played. But, hopefully, we will still be in front of them at the end of the season.”
This game is of huge importance for Chelsea to ensure they do just that. Finishing in the top four is the bare minimum requirement for Maurizio Sarri this term — and he is currently on track. Chelsea are fourth, six points clear of Arsenal and Manchester United, but a Gunners victory tomorrow evening would land a significant blow.
“It is a fixture against a direct opponent in the Champions League race,” said Giroud. “If we can win it, a nine-point gap is a big one to have over them. We must take this opportunity. It has been a long time since we had a week off like we have just had to prepare for a game. We will be 100 per cent focused.”
