Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud have both moved to admit that they both wish to play for Arsenal in this coming season.
Our club has moved to bring in Alexandre Lacazette so far this summer, for a club record £52 Million, and his arrival was expected to come as a blow to fellow French international Olivier Giroud.
The 30 year-old had claimed that he had intentions to play out the season as the club’s first-choice striker, but following the arrival of strong competition, who will no doubt usurp him in the first-team, his future has since been speculated strongly.
Everton are said to be the favourites for Giroud’s signature, but the former Montpellier. star is solely concentrating on preparing for the new season, and is relishing the challenge posed by his new team-mate Lacazette.
“Honestly I don’t know (about my future),” he told reporters at Arsenal’s third kit launch in Sydney.
“For the moment I’m still an Arsenal player and try to be professional like I always have done and to prepare well for the next season.
“Obviously, there will be more competition – even more than last year, but it’s always nice for a striker to feel the pressure.
“I always deal with it. I’ve been through some difficulty this last year, but always succeed to bounce back.
“I don’t know about my future, so can’t tell you more – [I’m] focused on my pre-season.”
Mesut Ozil has made his intentions more clear than his counterpart, declaring his intentions as ‘definite’ that he would like to stay. The German has been a key player in our side since joining in 2014, and with only one year remaining on his contract, had been a huge doubt moving forward.
“It is definitely my preference to stay,” he said. “It is such a great club and I have always said that I feel very good at Arsenal.
“Once everyone is back in London we will sit down and discuss about the future.
“For now the most important thing is our pre-season and getting through the tour, training and getting fitness. When I’m back in London, we will sit down and discuss.”