Gunners Get Kind Cup Draws

 

By Nick Lander

 

Arsenal learnt their fate in both the Champions League and Capital One Cup (formerly Carling Cup) today, receiving fairly kind draws in both competitions.

 

Arsenal were one of the top seeds, in Pot 1 for the Champions League draw in Monaco at 1700BST were drawn into Group B, alongside Bundesliga side Shalke 04 from Pot 2, Greeks side Olympiakos (again!) and French champions Montpellier were drawn from Pot 4, handing Olivier Giroud a swift return to the club he departed for the Gunners in July.

 

Whilst not the easiest group that the Gunners could have got, it is extremely favourable when compared to the 'group of death' that Manchester City find themselves in, alongside Real Madrid, Ajax and Borussia Dortmund. All four teams reigning domestic champions.

 

The draw for the Carling Cup third round was also this evening, which has paired the Gunners with League 1 side Coventry City. Coventry advanced after beating Championship side, and midlands rivals, Birmingham 3-2 after extra-time in the second round. The tie will be played at the Emirates in the week beginning 24th September.

 

Arsenal Champions League fixtures:

     Montpellier vs. Arsenal - 18th September

     Arsenal vs. Olympiakos - 3rd October

     Arsenal vs. Shalke 04 - 24th October

     Shalke 04 vs. Arsenal - 6th November

     Arsenal vs. Montpellier - 21st November

     Olympiakos vs. Arsenal - 4th December

 

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Arsenal Confirm Olivier Giroud Capture

Arsenal have confirmed the signature of French striker Olivier Giroud. The 25 year old finished last season as joint top scorer in Ligue 1 (21 goals from 36 appearances) with champions Montpellier. He has joined in a €12m deal, around £9.5m, and his contract will commence on the 1st July.

Giroud said that he is "proud of becoming a Gunner." The move will see him reunited with former Tours teammate Laurent Koscielny, whom he played alongside on the way to winning the Ligue 2 Player of the Year award in 2009/10. He says that he spoke "a lot" to Koscielny about life at Arsenal, whilst the two were on international duty with France at Euro 2012.

The Frenchman says that it "was frustrating" to get so little playing time at Euro 2012, and that he "wasn't used to being on the bench" - something that he may well need to get used to at Arsenal. He understands that he will not be an automatic starter when he joins, saying that there is "a lot of competition for places, but it is up to me to win my place" and that "[he is] not impatient and by working hard and perseverance, [he] will mature and increase [his] game time as well." Giroud's new manager, Arsene Wenger, said that Arsenal's new man has "a great work ethic," a sentiment which those quotes would seem to support.

Attracted to "mythical club" Arsenal by the "philosophy of how they play," Giroud is hoping that Wenger will be able to develop him as a player. Described as a "very good physical presence" by the Arsenal manager, Giroud insists that he is "a player who likes to play." Something that should stand him in good stead in N5.

It could be considered that Giroud is a late developer, having worked his way through the divisions in France, Giroud says that "at youth level I didn't really get my chance." But he managed to prove himself, first on loan at Istres in Division 3, then at Tours in Division 2 before sealing a move to Ligue 1 Montpellier where he got the chance to play European football, make his international debut for Les Bleus and eventually win the French title, playing well enough to earn himself a place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.

It remains to be seen if the striker will be able to make the step up again, but he believes that he has "the weapons to do well" with Arsenal. He is also hopeful of success with the Gunners, where he believes he is joining "a good generation of players." French sports newspaper, L'Equipe are reporting that Giroud turned down a move to Chelsea in favour of Arsenal; "I adore Arsenal, Wenger really wanted me & I wasn't sure Di Matteo knows who I am."

Whilst being a welcome addition to the Arsenal squad, his arrival has unnerved sections of the Arsenal faithful, who believe that his arrival signals talismanic captain Robin van Persie's departure. With only a year left on his contract, it is hoped that the Gunners' activity in the transfer market will demonstrate the club's intent to van Persie and persuade him to commit to a new deal, but with the scars from Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri's departures last summer still fresh, Gooners are bound to be nervous.

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