Olivier Giroud has admitted that leaving Arsenal was the toughest decision of his career as the veteran striker prepares for an emotional return to the Emirates Stadium with Lille.
The former France international, who turns 40 this year, spent nearly six years with the Gunners, scoring 105 goals in 235 appearances before moving to Chelsea in January 2018.
Giroud made the difficult decision to leave north London in a bid to secure his place in France’s squad for the 2018 World Cup. Although the move marked the end of a significant chapter in his career, the striker believes it was necessary for his development.
Now back in French football with Lille, Giroud will come face to face with his former club when the Ligue 1 side take on Arsenal in north London on Tuesday night.
Reflecting on his departure, the experienced forward admitted that walking away from Arsenal was far from easy.
“Arsenal was a major part of my career and I had to leave in order to play at the 2018 World Cup,” Giroud said.
“I was really sad when I left the club but I had to make that choice, and it was one of the toughest ones in my career, but it was important and necessary for the rest of my career.
“So, it is great to come back at 40 years old with a French club and to play against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal. That is a blessing. It is something I wanted to happen, and I feel very lucky.”
Giroud enjoyed considerable success during his Arsenal spell, winning the FA Cup three times. However, a Premier League title remained beyond his reach during his time at the club.
His departure to Chelsea opened another chapter in English football before subsequent spells with AC Milan and Major League Soccer outfit Los Angeles FC.
The striker eventually returned to his homeland last year, setting up the opportunity to face Arsenal again in a fixture that carries personal significance.
Giroud will also reunite with Mikel Arteta, whom he played alongside during their time at Arsenal. The Frenchman believes the Spaniard’s leadership qualities were evident long before he became one of the Premier League’s leading managers.
Arteta, 44, has since established himself as a central figure in Arsenal’s revival and recently signed a new contract that will keep him at the Emirates Stadium until 2030.
Giroud believes the former midfielder always possessed the qualities required to succeed in management, pointing to his demanding personality, technical ability and influence on his teammates.
“Mikel is a great person, a great manager and he has shown that with the team he has built.
“The Premier League title proves he has done incredible work, and he was given the time which was very important.
“I remember Mikel as a player, and you could see he was made for a managerial career because he was a leader on the pitch, but off it, too. He was very demanding with himself, and his team-mates and great technically.
“I really enjoyed my time with him. We won a few trophies together and it is a blessing to come back here and play against his team.”
For Giroud, the return represents more than another fixture on the European calendar. It offers a chance to revisit a club that shaped a major part of his career and reconnect with familiar surroundings under a manager he once shared the dressing room with.
While his Arsenal years did not deliver the Premier League crown he would have wanted, his 105 goals and three FA Cup triumphs secured his place in the club’s recent history.
At 40, Giroud now has the opportunity to experience the Emirates from the opposite side, bringing his journey in English, Italian, American and French football full circle.
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