Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has revealed that he joined Chelsea in January 2018 to improve his chances of making France’s squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. The French forward scored 105 goals in 253 appearances for Arsenal after joining the club under manager Arsène Wenger.
Giroud said his time under Wenger helped improve his technique, finishing and ability to link up with teammates. He praised the former Arsenal manager’s training methods and also noted similarities between Wenger’s team and Mikel Arteta’s current side, particularly in their approach to attacking play. However, he observed that teams now often defend deeper, making it more difficult to create scoring opportunities.
The striker admitted that leaving Arsenal was an emotional decision, but said regular playing time was important for his international ambitions. His move proved successful, as France went on to win the 2018 World Cup. Giroud is now set to return to north London with Lille for their Champions League meeting with Arsenal, describing the occasion as a special moment in his career.
