Olivier Giroud hits back at ‘Mikel Arteta out’ brigade with clear message for Arsenal in sacking claim

Add as preferred source on Google

Former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has backed Mikel Arteta to be a success at the club, despite seemingly falling short of the season’s ambitions.

As it stands for the Gunners, the Premier League title race is firmly out of their hands, coming as a major blow to the hopes of lifting the trophy in late May.

Further pressure has grown on Mikel Arteta after exits in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, leaving just the Champions League as one competition in their hands.

The lack of forward options at Arsenal may well stop that though, with plenty already looking to next season and the challenges ahead.

While there have been some calling for Arteta to be sacked, ex-striker Olivier Giroud has explained how the Arsenal manager can continue to impress.

• READ MORE: Arsenal are ‘pushing’ to appoint sporting director who discovered Kylian Mbappe and Gabriel Magalhaes

Olivier Giroud backs Mikel Arteta despite Arsenal fall

While Arsenal are veering dangerously towards a campaign without silverware yet again, pressure is mounting on Arteta.

The manager has built the side up well and has been backed sufficiently in the transfer market, but it is approaching a time to deliver.

For some, that’s enough to look at other options at the helm, though many are still backing Arteta going into next season.

Giroud, currently enjoying his time with MLS side LAFC, took some time to speak to Hayters about the current situation at the club.

On the job Arteta is doing, he said: “He’s done a great job since a few years. I would say the continuity in a different style but continuity in what Arsenal have done, he’s got time, he had time to make the team improve to set up his ideas and he’s one of the best managers in the world now.

“He has shown it and he has brought back Arsenal to the top of the league, well almost because they need to – I would love to see them win the league.”

It shows just how highly the former striker thinks of the Arsenal manager, even while under some growing pressure.

Arteta has been given time before and he rewarded that patience with progress, now Arsenal will be hoping the same will result in further success down the line.

• READ MORE: Ian Wright says Arsene Wenger banned one thing at Arsenal that annoyed him before sneaking it in anyway

What is Olivier Giroud doing now?

Since leaving Arsenal in 2018, Olivier Giroud has been on something of a wild journey, firstly stopping off at rivals Chelsea.

He spent three years there before a three-year stint at AC Milan, where he helped the side win the Scudetto as a key option up front.

Giroud left in 2024 for a new option, joining LAFC in the MLS, winning the US Open Cup just a few months into his stay there.

At 38 years old, Giroud is now approaching the end of his playing career but he still has plenty of ambition to achieve before calling it a day.