• Premier League

Arsenal want 'emotional' Giroud to be a 'killer' like Costa

Arsenal coaches want "emotional" Olivier Giroud to be a "killer" like Chelsea's Diego Costa, the Frenchman has revealed.

After injury left him sidelined for much of the first half of the Premier League season, Giroud has struck eight goals this term, nine shy of the Premier League's joint-leading scorers Costa and Sergio Aguero.

However, the Arsenal striker admits he is trying to develop a ruthless streak in front of goal.

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"When I put my head in my hands after missing a chance, that annoys the coaches a little," Giroud told L'Equipe. "They want me to be more of a 'killer', almost insensitive.

"Diego Costa doesn't show any emotion. I am more emotional. So I have learned to control my emotions."

Giroud's goals have come from just 10 starts, however, meaning his goals-per-minute ratio is better than Costa and does not lag far beyond Manchester City's Aguero.

"I don't have an inferiority complex. I don't have their name, but - in terms of stats - I am just behind Costa and Aguero," said Giroud.

"When people are talking about a player to come and take your place, you take it personally becuase its your position. I hear people say, 'They have Giroud and [Danny] Welbeck but they need a world-class striker.' Meaning, us, we're not world-class forwards.

"It spurs you on. Recently, there was a buzz around Jackson Martinez. The coach has said good things about him, the player has said he would like to come. I learned that before the Middlesbrough game. It gave me added motivation. I was very happy to score those two goals."

Giroud also acknowledged that last summer's arrivals of Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez have eased the burden on him.

"I'm less isolated. Before, I was the centre-forward and it was up to me to score," he said. "Now, the attention is no longer focused on a single player.

"There's more pace, more penetration. We're less predictable and there is more diversity. Danny likes to cut inside. Alexis can make the difference with the ball at his feet. He brings zest and a personality that we didn't have. He's a Duracell battery. He never stops. His hunger is infectious."

Olivier Giroud says rumours that Arsenal were interested in Jackson Martinez spurred him on to score twice against Middlesbrough © Getty Images

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