Olivier Giroud has told Sky Sports that he is not concerned about approaching the worst form of his Arsenal career ahead of today’s trip to Manchester United.
The French forward has not scored in eight games in all competitions, and a blank at Old Trafford would mark his worst run for the Gunners since joining in 2012.
But the 29-year-old accepts that these barren spells are just part and parcel of being a striker, and is adamant that he is still contributing to the team’s cause.
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He told Sky Sports: “As a striker, it is all about momentum. I did well until mid-January, but it has been one-and-a-half months since I last scored.
“I try to help the team to set up the game and assist my team-mates, which I am pleased about, but obviously as a striker I want to score.
“But I am not worried about that. I work for the team and when I have the opportunity to put it in the net I will do it with determination, and hopefully this weekend.”
While Giroud is struggling for form at present, he is on course for his best goalscoring season with the Gunners, having bagged 18 in all competitions so far.
His previous best total of 22 was in the 2013-14 campaign, but his 12 Premier League goals this term ranks him only seventh in the top-flight scoring charts.
No team has won the English championship without having one of their players score 20 league goals in a season since Manchester United in 2008-09.
All of Arsenal’s title rivals have a striker on course to hit the 20-goal mark – Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy and Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.
Which is probably why questions remain of Giroud’s ability to fire Arsenal to a first title in 12 years. He will hope to answer some of those doubts at Old Trafford today.
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