How Wenger halted Chelsea’s Giroud move

Arsenal’s new striker Olivier Giroud wants Robin van Persie to stay at the club so he can play alongside the captain next season.

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.