Could Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud be on his way out of the Emirates Stadium this summer?

Add as preferred source on Google

According to reports in the Mirror, Arsenal and France forward Olivier Giroud is allegedly moving closer to an Arsenal exit after a frustrating season spent in North London.

Premier League rivals West Ham and French outfit Marseille have been touted as potential destinations should the Frenchman want to leave, with numerous Italian sides also showing interest.

The Mirror had reported last week that the 30-year-old is unhappy after a distinct lack of regular first-team football under Arsene Wenger last season, and this frustration could spark a move away.

Speaking whilst on international duty with France, he said:

 “It is true that I have had limited playing time but it was for a certain amount of time, it is true there were things against me. I will not settle for another year with such little playing time.

“I have will have to think carefully to consider it with my relatives and my advisers. It will be a decision that will be maturely thought about to have more playing time.”

The Arsenal boss seemed to prefer playing Alexis Sanchez in a central striking role during the earlier parts of the season, before giving Danny Welbeck the nod once he had returned from injury.

What attributes could the Frenchman bring to another side?

Perhaps the most obvious characteristic of Olivier Giroud’s game comes directly from his six-feet three-inch frame, with the striker arguably one of the best headers of the ball across the top-flight.

His willingness to attack a cross and jostle with the most physical of central defenders is an attribute that cannot be underestimated; in a new era of pace, there’s undeniably still room for a target man.

69 goals in 118 league appearances for the Gunners shows that he’s a man that knows how to find the back of the net, and this experience of the Premier League would lend him well to West Ham.

Despite managing just 11 starts in his 29 Premier League appearances throughout the recent campaign, Giroud still fired in 12 goals – Arsenal’s second highest tally – and made three assists.

His tendency to come off of the bench late in games and put himself about in the area paid dividends on numerous occasions this season; late goals against Manchester United and Bournemouth both earnt Arsenal a valiant point, whilst he secured all three against West Brom.

There’s no doubting that he’s still a valuable asset for Arsenal – and it’s likely that Wenger won’t let him leave easily, or cheaply – but it’s fair to say that somebody of Giroud’s quality should be starting games.

It’s almost like he’s been putting himself in the shop window during the recent international break too, scoring France’s first hat-trick for 17 years as they thrashed Paraguay in a friendly, before bagging a sensational half-volley from the corner of the 18-yard box in a World Cup qualifier against Sweden.

The 30-year-old doesn’t possess the most pace or agility in the final third, but his frame, his physicality and his instinctive nature to gamble in the area gives an ultimately prolific edge when in front of goal.

With The Sun reporting that Arsenal have been stepping up their pursuit of Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette over the past few weeks, it could be a matter of time until Giroud faces an inevitable Emirates exit.