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Giroud: I want to stay at Arsenal

Olivier Giroud hopes Arsene Wenger stays at Arsenal © Getty Images

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Olivier Giroud has ruled out an Arsenal exit this summer, insisting he is staying to fight for his place and would consider signing a new deal.

The striker has seen uncertainty over his future in north London mount since he was the subject of a scandal caused by allegations that he spent the night with an underwear model in the team hotel on the eve of a match earlier this season.

Giroud, 27, has reportedly been the subject of interest from clubs in Spain and his native France, but intends to at least see out the four-year deal he penned upon arriving in 2012, and even suggested he would happily sign an extension.

"Could I extend my contract? Why not?" Giroud told TF1, adding that speculation over his future had been just that.

"You shouldn't listen to that. A lot of things were said. I'm still happy in London and with Arsenal and think I will be in the future.

"I have a contract until 2016 and I'm an Arsenal player. I want to be here next season, at least that's my will."

Consecutive wins over West Ham and Hull have put Arsenal back on course for a top-four finish after they had slipped behind Everton in the race for Champions League football with a 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park.

Now Giroud wants Arsene Wenger, who is out of contract this summer and is still yet to put pen to paper on a new contract, to follow suit and put an end to speculation he could leave the club.

"Of course we all want him to continue the adventure," said Giroud. "I'm sure next season we can challenge for the title - I hope, right until the end of the season - and we need the coach. We need his experience. He has to stay.

"Things are better, we've got a bit of serenity back with regards to fourth. I would say the main objective is to finish fourth - we know that the Champions League is a vital objective for the club. We've played in it for the last 16 years and I don't want to be part of the team that misses out. But the FA Cup final is also very, very important for the club."

The opportunity to end the club's near-decade-long trophy drought will come next month against Hull at Wembley. Their main focus for the moment remains holding off the challenge of Everton, a cause to which Giroud contributed significantly with a magnificent goal in the 3-1 defeat of West Ham.

"I was ribbed about it. People told me it was a goal a la Dennis Bergkamp, which was a nice compliment," Giroud said.

"There's everything I like in that goal: the positioning, the use of your body to open up the space and following that up with a good touch; because for a striker, it's good touch that makes the difference in the penalty area. So that's good, it shows I have moral resources and that's good for the team."

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