Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud has admitted that joining the Blues from London rivals Arsenal represented an “improvement”.
The Frenchman scored against his former side in the 2019 Europa League final, helping Chelsea win 4-1 in Baku.
Why did Giroud leave Arsenal? Five key things to know…
- Giroud spent six seasons with Arsenal between 2012 and 2018.
- The Frenchman then moved to London rivals Chelsea in January 2018.
- Since then, he has won the FA Cup and Europa League – in addition to the World Cup.
- Giroud has now revealed he left Arsenal to get better opportunities to win trophies.
- The striker won three trophies in six years with the Gunners, compared to two in 18 months at Stamford Bridge.
Giroud joined Chelsea from Arsenal in January 2018, a move which allowed the Gunners to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund.
In the 18 months since, Giroud has enjoyed considerable success, winning the FA Cup and Europa League with Chelsea and the World Cup with France.
And the 32-year-old has risked the wrath of any Gunners fans who still had fond feelings for him, revealing he feels like a “proper” Chelsea man after another trophy.
“It was an improvement going from Arsenal to Chelsea and I knew I would have the opportunity to win some more trophies,” he told Chelsea’s official website.
“To win this Europa League one year after winning the World Cup is great for me.
“I’m a Blue, a proper Blue. It’s a new chapter of my career and it was very special to score. I am so proud of this team.
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“I’m 32, nearly 33, but I feel like there is more and more to come. I am still hungry and I am looking forward to next year: playing in the Champions League and fighting for more titles.”
Giroud initially joined Arsenal from Montpellier in 2012, and won three FA Cups in six years with the Gunners before leaving for Chelsea.
Despite not being Chelsea’s first-choice striker, the Frenchman has contributed with important goals in his 63 games. Of Giroud’s 18 in total, 11 came in the 2018/19 Europa League – more than any other player in the competition, proving key to Chelsea winning the trophy.
READ MORE: How Chelsea can replace the giant void Eden Hazard will leave – with and without a transfer ban
“Thank you Arsenal”
Giroud’s comments on leaving Arsenal for trophies are not the only way the Frenchman has risked angering his former fans.
Following Chelsea’s win on Wednesday, a large number of the Blues’ players were uploaded snippets of their post-match celebrations on Instagram.
In a live broadcast from midfielder Jorginho from the team coach, Giroud was videoed lifting the Europa League trophy, before shouting “Thank you Arsenal”.
‘Thank you @Arsenal’ 😂 pic.twitter.com/KC3tX1yYyR
— The Blues (@TheBlues___) May 30, 2019