• Premier League

Giroud will come back stronger, says Koscielny

Giroud has been a focal point for Arsenal's attacking play over the past few seasons © Getty Images

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Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud will "come back stronger" once he recovers from the broken foot that has ruled him out until January, according to club and international team-mate Laurent Koscielny.

Giroud was injured playing against Everton last month, forcing Arsene Wenger to find a replacement in new signing Danny Welbeck.

But centre back Koscielny insists that his fellow countryman will continue to be a vital player for the Arsenal once he returns to full fitness and play a vital part in the Premier League run-in, not least in offering the team a long ball option.

"Olivier is an important player for us," Koscielny told the Arsenal official website. "He's very strong during the game and he's scored a lot of goals. So for us it's very difficult to lose him. But I know him and I know he will come back stronger.

"He will want to show everyone that he can be a very good player and a good striker in the Premier League and in Europe. It is important for us that Olivier keeps this mentality and comes back stronger for us.

"When we play the long ball, he can keep the ball and he's strong so the defenders can't touch the ball. He's very, very important for us. Now we need to do without him and I hope there is a player who can replace him and do the job well."

Koscielny, 29, pledged to support his injured team-mate through what he knows will be a difficult time.

"When you are injured for three, four or five months, the most difficult thing is to keep motivated and be happy enough to come back," he said.

"Some days you could just say I don't want to come back - I can't arrive this week. We need to be with him.

"He knows all of the players are with him to help him to come back quickly, stronger, because we need to play with him to score a lot of goals. He will be very important for us in the last six months of the season.

"For a striker we talk a lot about his goals but when you watch Olivier during a game you can see his job, which is not just offensively but also defensively because he can come back for free-kicks to help us."

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