• Premier League

Giroud not worried by Sanchez and Welbeck competition

Olivier Giroud has told L'Equipe he was not worried about regaining his place in the Arsenal frontline despite the club's £46 million expenditure on Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez.

After Giroud, 28, fractured his left foot in the Premier League match against Everton in August, Arsenal bought Welbeck from Manchester United for £16m to add to the £30m capture of Sanchez, who signed from Barcelona earlier in the summer.

In Giroud's three-month absence, the pair have had an opportunity to establish themselves as Arsene Wenger's first-choice forwards. However, once fit again, Giroud was brought off the bench and scored in defeat to Manchester United before then being restored to the starting line-up in the following Premier League game against West Brom.

"I've never really been worried about my place," Giroud said. "I don't want to appear to be someone who is overly confident in himself, but from the moment where I do the business on the pitch and I'm good, I know the coach will give me my chance. That is what happened.

"The club did well to buy Danny [Welbeck]. We needed another forward. The competition is very healthy between us. It makes each of us better, and we are very complementary.

"It's normal that when new players come in, questions are asked of those who were already there but the criticism doesn't affect me. It's the pitch that counts. I've shown that I can contribute."

Giroud did return to the bench for Wednesday's match with Southampton, but made a very positive impression after being introduced just after the hour mark, helping secure a welcome 1-0 win that leaves Arsenal sixth and two points off fourth spot.

"The coach told me he wanted to tread carefully, that it was better not to go too quickly because we're going to play a lot of games in December, even if I wanted to play," Giroud said.

"I am happy to have come off the bench and to have added a little something. I don't feel any niggle, no pain. The goal against Manchester United on my return also did me a lot of good."

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