Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has revealed his frustration at playing a bit part role so far this season.
Giroud was given an extended break after his performances for France at Euro 2016, and has seen Alexis Sanchez replace him the Gunners' starting eleven up front and succeed, scoring six Premier League goals and creating three assists.
Speaking toL'Equipe, Giroud remembered the Champions League match against PSG earlier this season as a moment in which he felt disappointed in manager Arsene Wenger, having originally thought he would start the match.
While Giroud did appear as a substitute, he couldn't affect the game and was sent off in added time.
The coach has given me a month of complete holiday, as with Lolo (Laurent Koscielny). They have the need to offer a real break to the players who went far in the competition in the years of the Euros or World Cup.
I had wanted to play again quickly, but he really insisted that I take my time telling me that some players returned to their best level in November.�
I thought I would start because the coach had put me on the bench against Southampton, three days before. But no.
It is in that moment, on the morning of the match in Paris, that I had a discussion with him. He said that I was close to returning. Frankly, I was hurt, disappointed."
The likes of Antoine Griezmann and Kevin Gameiro have emerged as possible replacements for Giroud in France's national team, and the former Montpellier forward has admitted he cannot allow his career to 'stagnate', despite seeing his immediate future at the Emirates.
If my game time continues to stagnate, it will affect my future selection. I cannot play one game in five. After, we must not make the audit (judge too soon) in early November. And my future, I see it at Arsenal for two or three years I hope.�