Arsenal striker Oliver Giroud was given a chance by Arsene Wenger to
leave the club in the summer after the arrival of France compatriot
Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon for a club record fee.
The 30 year old was linked to a host of clubs which included Borussia
Dortmund, Marsielle, Lyon, West Ham and Everton.
However, despite the choice being largely his to make whether to leave
or not. He decided to stay.
Just one goal shy of reaching a century of goals for Arsenal, he sat
alongside Arsene Wenger in the club's press conference on Wednesday
ahead of the Europa League match against Cologne on Thursday. Where he
was again asked how close he was to leaving in the summer?
"It was a private decision. It's true that I was close to leaving the
club because I said I wanted to play. After a big reflection,
everybody [came] around me like my family and my close friends in a
supportive way, and I wanted to stay at The Arsenal.
"I thought the story was not over and finished at Arsenal. The club
bring me a lot and I think I give it back. I still want to improve and
improve again and again and win some more trophies with the club.
"As I said to the boss, 'our story is not finished.' Everybody was
pleased with that."
The importance of his decision to remain at the club was shown in the
opening day of the Premier League season when his late header earned
Arsenal all three points against Leicester City.
Signed in 2012, he would join an exclusive list of players who have
scored 100 goals for Arsenal if he scores on Thursday night.
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