Olivier Giroud admits he put Arsene Wenger under pressure to allow his move to Chelsea and claims the Arsenal manager wanted him to leave in order to improve his chances of making France’s World Cup squad.
The 31-year-old joined the Premier League champions in an £18 million deal on deadline day after spending nearly six years at Arsenal.
Wenger, meanwhile, clinched the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund, which was the key reason behind Giroud’s desire to leave.
Giroud claims Dortmund offered a better financial package than Chelsea, but the striker admits he was keen to remain in London due to the recent birth of his son.
Giroud also reveals that Wenger was keen to ensure that the French forward could leave Arsenal in order to get regular playing time.
‘It was frustrating at Arsenal obviously. For a year and a half, it went from bad to worse. I could no longer continue like that,’ the striker told France Football.
‘I could not bring myself to spend another year at Arsenal and remain a reserve, even a second reserve.
‘The future looked gloomy with the arrival of a new striker [Aubameyang]. I wanted to become happier again by playing, so I left – it is as simple as that.
‘The easiest solution was to go to Dortmund. Arsenal were happy, Dortmund as well.
GIROUD REVEALS HIS CONVERSATION WITH WENGER
‘I did not want to be deprived of going to Chelsea, which was the best solution for me.
‘The coach immediately said to me: ‘Don’t worry, I will do my best so that you are happy’.’
‘It was the offer most interesting, financially speaking. I have a very good contract at Chelsea but Dortmund really wanted me.
‘It happened after a game of poker, like in all transfers. It dragged on, I started to get stressed because my third child was born at that exact moment. That was also why I did not want to go to Dortmund.
‘Spending four months without seeing him, I do not know how I could have done it. It was why, I needed to take the bull by the horns.
‘I went to see the coach to ask him where he was with Aubameyang. I put him under a bit of pressure, like my agent, who I spoke to several times a day.
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‘It is normal. I did not want to be deprived of going to Chelsea, which was the best solution for me.
‘The coach immediately said to me: ‘Don’t worry, I will do my best so that you are happy’.
‘On one side, it was normal. I had never asked to leave. On the other, I knew that he would not cause problems given the relationship we had always had.
‘He even said to me that it would p*** him off if I did not go to Russia.’
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