Jack Wilshere has raved about former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud in The Sun, adding that the striker has got better since leaving the Emirates Stadium.
The former Arsenal midfielder made the comments about Giroud ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup quarter-final tie between England and France on Saturday evening.
Former Arsenal and Chelsea striker Giroud is set to start for France.
Wilshere played with the France international striker at Arsenal, and the Englishman still holds the 36-year-old in high regard.
Jack Wilshere on former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud
The former Arsenal midfielder wrote about Giroud: “When he first came to Arsenal in pre-season of 2012 we were like, ‘Woah, who’s this guy?’
“Nobody had really heard of him but he was a big presence in the dressing room and a good-looking bloke who was first at everything.
“He was first in the gym scores, won every race, and was totally ripped. He was in some shape.”
Wilshere added: “He was underrated in England. He’s a proper striker, 73 Premier League goals for Arsenal before moving to Chelsea.
“And one thing he always had was great self-belief. He backed himself to succeed, no matter what anyone said. He got better and better and kept going, which says a lot about someone’s personality.”
Successful career
Olivier Giroud is one of the best strikers of his generation, and there can be no doubt about it when you look at what he has achieved with Montpellier, Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan and France.
Giroud was on the books of Arsenal from the summer of 2012 until January 2018 when he moved to London and Premier League rivals Chelsea.
Chelsea paid the Gunners £18 million in transfer fees for the striker (BBC Sport), who won the Ligue 1 title with Montpellier in 2011-12.
During his time at Arsenal, Giroud scored 105 goals in 253 games, and won the FA Cup three times.
The French striker won the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the FA Cup once each with Chelsea.
Giroud helped Milan to the Serie A title last season.
The striker won the World Cup with France in 2018 and is his country’s highest goalscorer of all time.
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