- Olivier Giroud has not started a Premier League game this season
- Arsene Wenger admires the striker for his mental resilience
- France international also won over supporters at Euro 2016
Olivier Giroud may have lost his starting place for Arsenal, but Arsene Wenger has praised the France international’s resilience and insists he can always ‘rely on him’.
The 30-year-old has not started a Premier League game this season – and has been sidelined since injuring his toe in a Champions League clash with Paris Saint Germain on September 13, with Wenger preferring to use Alexis Sanchez as his central striker.
The Gunners boss, however, insists the Frenchman has the mental strength to change people’s opinions of him, especially in the most important games of the season.
‘I am an admirer of Giroud because he has gone through some tough times and he bounces back, Wenger told the Guardian.
‘When his back is to the wall, he has an answer every time. When I go into a big game, you always think: ”I can rely on him.” You know that when the competition starts, he will be with you.’
GIROUD ARSENAL STATS
            Appearances (subs) Goals
Premier League    107 (31)        57
Europe             21 (6)         11
FA Cup             11 (8)         11
League Cup         3 (2)         2
