Arsenal: Olivier Giroud comments vindicate, not vilify, Arsene Wenger

Olivier Giroud has revealed some of what he and Arsene Wenger spoke about before his Arsenal exit. His comments do not vilify his manager. In fact, they vindicate him.

Olivier Giroud signing for Chelsea was far from ideal. Even though it was a necessary component of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s record arrival at Arsenal, seeing a player of such character and commitment play for a direct rival is not the nicest sight in the world.

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Nevertheless, that is the decision that Arsene Wenger made on the deadline day of the January transfer window. The four-and-a-half years that Giroud spent at the Emirates was deemed enough; his time at Chelsea was set to begin.

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And it has since been revealed how the conversations between player and manager went during the closing days and hours of the completed three-way deal that involved a Michy Batshuayi loan as a balancing weight for it all to take place. Giroud admitted that he had several talks with Wenger as the deals were taking place, revealing his manager’s insistence on making him happy, even if it came at the possible detriment of his own club:

"“I went to see the coach to ask him where he was with Aubameyang <…> The coach immediately said to me: ‘Don’t worry, I will do my best so that you are happy’. On one side, it was normal. I had never asked to leave. On the other, I knew that he would not cause problems given the relationship we had always had. He even said to me that it would p*** him off if I did not go to Russia.”"

Some may criticise fierce loyalty to his players, especially when it seems to come at a direct conflict to the progress of what should be his number priority: Arsenal football club. But I choose to see it a little differently.

Wenger is in football for more than just winning. That does not mean that he does not want to win. He does. But he also wants to develop, to nurture, to further the culture, the edify the footballing community, to lead, to teach, to protect and to prosper. With Giroud, he saw these principles fulfilled in a Chelsea move.

He wanted him to play at a competitive level. He wanted him and his family to be happy, which reportedly meant staying in London. He wanted him to play at a club where he would be given regular minutes in a World Cup year so that he could fight for his place in the French national squad.

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Am I frustrated to see Giroud at Chelsea? Absolutely. I’m sure Wenger is too. But sometimes, there is more to life than purely winning. That is the type of man that Wenger is, not just manager, and for that, I have great respect.