‘Very Proud To Be A Gunner’ – Olivier Giroud Completes £12m Arsenal Move (First Photo)

Chris Wright

26th, June 2012

12 Comments

By Chris Wright

Oi oi. Arsenal have only gone and signed Olivier Giroud on a ‘long-term deal’, chucking £12 million in Montpellier’s direction for the pleasure – a deal which has been teetering over the very precipice of completion for what seems like months and months and months.

Giroud won the title with Montpellier last season, snaffling 21 goals in 36 league appearances, leaving him joint top-scorer and earning him a place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year. Word is, he’s asked to wear the currently uninhabited No. 12 shirt at the Emirates.

Said the man himself via Arsenal’s official website:

“I was attracted by the philosophy of football and Arsene Wenger’s ‘touch’ at this club. I have always admired Arsenal with its great history and reputation, and I now hope to achieve great things here. I’m very proud to be a Gunner and I will give my best for all the Arsenal fans.”

Hands up, we don’t know an awful lot about Monsieur Giroud save the fact that he’s like a slightly more adept Nicklas Bendtner in style and that his trademark goal celebration is unlikely to go down particularly well with his new teammates…

Word to the wise, you might want to run that by your new colleagues rather than just springing it on them Olivier.

Here’s his best bits from last season…

Image via @GiroudMHSC/Arsenal

Posted in Arsenal, Photos, Transfers & Rumours

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12 Comments

  1. Wesley says:

    I am very excited about this transfer. Curious how Arsenal will play next year.. Is this a sign (with also Podolski signing) that they feel RVP is going to leave? Where to then? His performance in Ukrain was rubbish, indicating that without his 10 serving teammates at Arsenal he isn’t that awesome perhaps.

  2. usrick says:

    Don’t know if it means RVP will be leaving, but it would seem to mean Arsenal will be okay without him.

    Though I am a bit concerned by the video, which suggests French keepers aren’t very good. I would have expected several of those shots to have been kept out by a quality keeper.

  3. Toz says:

    “I can’t wait to play here then move to Man City and double my wages.” – Olivier Giroud on signing for Arsenal.

  4. Guy says:

    @toz – so two or three years then?

  5. Papi says:

    Unnecessary. Unless they sign M’Vila, I won’t expect much improvement from the gunners.

  6. Toz says:

    @Guy

    Hahaha, yeah.

  7. Spud Steve says:

    Bye bye Bendtner Chamakh Rosicky and RVP. You know its true.
    Podolski Walcott and the OX serving it up to Giroud
    Wilshere and Song holding
    Assorted numpties playing in the back four and Chesney in between the sticks

  8. muppets says:

    he’s a big target man, so i’m sure he’ll appreciate all those fantastic balls theo walcott puts in the box…

  9. Cosa says:

    Central tapponian republic of tappin

    chamakh mark 2?

  10. Del says:

    I wished it and it happened, although now I’m wondering if he was brought in as Van Persie’s replacement?
    After a dismal Euro campaign I can’t wait for the new Premier League season. ;)

  11. daniel4ing says:

    think what will happen is that Giroud will become the main striker and van persie will be playing close/behind him. Also this gives arsenal an option for when van persie gets injured which they didn’t have last season.

  12. squiggle says:

    “I would be delighted if my ­gesture can help change the mentality of some people ­involved in football.” Top man.

    p.s. Apparently, Eric Cantona joined the Stone Roses on stage in Lyon.

Leave a Reply to Del