Olivier Giroud is excited after making an £18-million move from Arsenal to Chelsea on transfer deadline day.
Chelsea had a lacklustre January, during which they drew three Premier League games 0-0 for the first time in their history, which highlighted the need for a new striker.
Things got so desperate for Antonio Conte at one point that the club even considered bringing in Peter Crouch and Andy Caroll, two players who are past their peak and who have not exactly displayed recent form that has warranted them to be playing for a club such as Chelsea.
Giroud as hungry as ever to score goals
Giroud is certainly a better signing than Caroll or Crouch would have been. He is a proven scorer at the highest level, having scored 105 goals from 253 appearances, and in addition to this, he will also be hungry to score goals during the second half of the season as he is fighting to be included in the France team that will travel to the 2018 World Cup.
Giroud fell down the pecking order at Arsenal this season as Arsene Wenger used him as backup to Alexandre Lacazette and Alexis Sanchez during his final months at the Emirates. The Blues completed a deadline day move that saw Michy Batshuayi going on loan to German club Borussia Dortmund and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joining Arsenal.
Giroud said: “Chelsea is one of the biggest teams in the Premier League.
“They have won maybe the most trophies in the last six or seven years. It’s a massive club and I am proud to sign for Chelsea, and I’m looking forward to playing.”
Giroud will be a decent short-term signing to bolster the Blues’ hopes of ensuring a top-four finish and perhaps if he does well this season, the club can consider keeping him for a longer period of time.
Giroud will be hungry as ever to score goals during the second half of the season in order to win selection to the France squad that will play in the World Cup.
