Arsenal striker says he needs to ‘harden mentally’ for the Gunners

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has admitted he needs to adopted a ‘harden mentally’ after losing his first-team spot this season.

Giroud was regular at Montpellier and Arsenal prior to this season, where the excellent form of Theo Walcott has given the French international a bit-part role in the first-team role.

The lack of football seems to be affecting the player’s mentally, as he’s struggled to get amongst the goals and was sent off in the first-half of Arsenal’s shock defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.

With Walcott having scored seven goals in 13 appearances for Arsenal this term, compared to Giroud’s three in 11, the French striker needs to work to get his spot in the team back but flourished on international duty, scoring two goals as France defeated Denmark 2-1.

After the game he commented on his position at Arsenal, stating it was an entirely new experience for him, and accepted he needs to work to adapt to the situation.

“At Arsenal, I am in competition with Theo for the striker position. But he is doing well at the moment, so there is no reason to change,”

“Whether it was at Tours, Montpellier or Arsenal, I have never experienced a situation like this, I have often played from the start. I need to take positives and to harden myself mentally. It is something new for me.

“I was in [Walcott’s] place in previous seasons at Arsenal. I imagine what he must have been thinking. But I feel that the coach believes in me,”

Giroud is confident he can bounce-back though and says he will pounce on any opportunity he is given, which may come this weekend against Watford as Walcott may be rested for the crucial match against Bayern Munich next week.

“It has been for several matches now that I have played less, that is for sure, but I do not need to be worried. I need a bit more game time but also to believe more in my abilities,”

The former Montpellier man has scored three Premier League goals so far this season, two of which have been off the bench.