Olivier Giroud has insisted that it was an “easy decision” to leave Arsenal and join Chelsea during the January transfer window.
The French international spent six years with the Gunners, helping them capture three FA Cups and scoring over 100 goals in the process. However, he fell down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium this season following the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon.
Had he opted to remain with Arsene Wenger’s side, the 31-year-old’s first-team opportunities would have, in all probability, been further limited following the arrival of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund during the January transfer window.
This would have severely dented Giroud’s hopes of being part of the French national team squad that will travel to Russia this summer to play in the World Cup – so a move made full sense.
Since arriving at Stamford Bridge, however, things have not exactly gone according to plan for Giroud. He has managed to only score one goal, which came against Hull City during an FA Cup clash, and he has mainly been used as a backup option to Alvaro Morata and Eden Hazard.
This will not exactly be pleasing to French boss Didier Deschamps and if he does select Giroud for his 23-man World Cup squad, it will be due to experience and a past proven ability to score at the highest level.
Chelsea’s form has also dipped since the start of 2018 and they are also now unlikely to be playing in next season’s Champions League as they are ten points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham.
Giroud said: “When I had the opportunity to join Chelsea and stay in the Premier League, it was easy. That Arsenal page is finished now and it’s a new chapter for my career.
“Now I am 100 per cent focused on the Blues and achieving our targets.”
