How Wenger halted Chelsea’s Giroud move
The French international, who completed a €15m move from French champions Montpellier this week, has revealed that only a last-ditch text message from Arsene Wenger stopped him signing for Chelsea, and that he was offered much more money from other clubs desperate for his services.
Giroud has confirmed he also met with QPR coach Mark Hughes, and he was not impressed that Chelsea coach Roberto di Matteo made no effort to contact him even though the Blues were trying to get him too.
But it is his comments about van Persie that will be of most interest to Arsenal fans. Earlier this week, Giroud claimed he was not coming to replace van Persie but now he has taken that one step further and asked Wenger to consider pairing them together — if the Dutchman stays.
“Van Persie may be left-footed, like me, but I’m confident that we can play together,” said Giroud. “If Wenger signed me, it’s because he has an idea in mind. If van Persie and I get on well, I don’t see why we can’t play together. I want to cause problems when the coach is picking his team, I want him to change his plans to select van Persie and me. I know it will not be easy, but I am ambitious.
“It would be stupid of me to come with the idea that I can put van Persie on the bench. He just had a super season, he scored 30 goals, he has earned his spot. I am not making any claims, especially not that I am stronger than him. I want to impose myself, to bring a little something new to the Arsenal attack, but alongside him, if he stays.”
And yet Arsenal only got their man after a late intervention from Wenger stopped him joining Chelsea. “It’s true, I actually almost went to Chelsea. It was very close,” he said. “But Arsene Wenger tipped the balance. We exchanged text messages, and he made me realise by SMS he really wanted me. With Di Matteo, I was never directly in touch. To be honest, I don’t even know if he knows me.”
When Giroud was asked how he could turn down the Champions League winners, he replied: “What’s the point if the coach does not call you, if he does not show that he really wants you? Wenger convinced me that he believed in me. Di Matteo did not — he did not speak to me. There is another coach that I met and that’s Mark Hughes, the manager of Queens Park Rangers, where he has a big project.
“But Arsenal, and not QPR, is one of three or four biggest clubs in England. Not yet, anyway. And also I wanted to play Champions League.
“My heart has always leaned towards Arsenal. When I was young, I watched what Thierry Henry achieved there and it was a good example of a success story. There was also Vieira, Pires, the club had a true ‘French touch’.
“I always loved the playing philosophy of the club.’’
Giroud could have made more money by signing for a Russian or Ukrainian club, or Turkish side Fenerbahce, who wanted him. “I was offered pots of gold, but I have no complaints, I’m going to make a good living at Arsenal — at least it proves my primary motivation is not money.”
He added: “I’m going there to continue to develop. I can’t imagine failing here. I am confident I have made the right choice. I will succeed.”
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