Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has ripped into Arsenal sayimg his situation went from bad to worse, and he could no longer continue, in a frank and revealing interview.
Giroud’s move to Arsenal was one of the big stories on transfer deadline day, with it being part of a three way deal including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Michy Batshuayi, who moved to Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund respectively.
However, speaking to France Football, Giroud has revealed his frustrations at constantly being a substitute and being pushed down the pecking order:
“It was frustrating at Arsenal obviously.
“For a year and a half, it went from bad to worse.
“I could no longer continue like that.
“I could not bring myself to spend another year at Arsenal and remain a reserve, even a second reserve.
“The future looked gloomy with the arrival of a new striker (Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang).
“I wanted to become happier again by playing, so I left – it is as simple as that.”
The Frenchman had played second fiddle to Alexis Sanchez in the 2016/17 season, before the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette and eventually Aubameyang helped him make up his mind.
Giroud also explained how he was offered the opportunity to move to Dortmund as part of the Aubameyang deal, but he insisted that he wanted to stay in England.
“The easiest solution was to go to Dortmund.
“Arsenal were happy, Dortmund as well. It was the offer most interesting financially speaking. I have a very good contract at Chelsea but Dortmund really wanted me.
“It happened after a game of poker, like in all transfers. It dragged on, I started to get stressed because my third child was born at that exact moment. That was also why I did not want to go to Dortmund.
“Spending four months without seeing him, I do not know how I could have done it. It was why, I needed to take the bull by the horns.”
Giroud finally got off the mark for Chelsea in the 4-0 FA Cup win against Hull City on Friday.