• Premier League

Pires calls for patience over Giroud

ESPN staff
September 26, 2012
Olivier Giroud is yet to open his account for Arsenal © Getty Images
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Robert Pires says Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud should be given time to establish himself at Emirates Stadium.

France international Giroud, 25, arrived from Montpellier to bolster the club's striking options having finished the joint top scorer in Ligue 1 last season. However, he has yet to open his account for Arsenal.

Pires, who played for the club between 2000 and 2006, says he must be allowed time to settle.

"Honestly, I think we should be patient with him," Pires said. "I've been there and I took five to six months to adapt to English football. This is completely different from what he will have seen or learned in France.

"The additional problem for him is that he has two very difficult tasks ahead. The first is to score goals, and that's not an easy thing. The second, which is the bigger task in my opinion, is to replace Robin van Persie."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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