Olivier Giroud braced for one final Arsenal dance before hanging up his boots

Olivier Giroud has confirmed the 2026/27 campaign will probably be his final season as a professional player, but as he prepares for one last hurrah with Lille, he is braced for a final encounter with former club Arsenal.

In an interview with L'Équipe, the striker said "I think this is very likely my last season" which hints that he is set to bring the curtain down on a career that has spanned over 20 years and seen him play over 900 senior matches, net more than 350 goals and become France's all-time top goalscorer, a record since broken by Kylian Mbappé.

There is still a long way to go in this campaign for Giroud though and while his retirement is not completely official, it is very unlikely given his recent words and the fact he is just one day away from turning 40. However, there will be no party for him until he meets his ex-employers Arsenal one final time in the Champions League.

Olivier Giroud braced for one final Arsenal dance before retirement

Giroud's current club Lille are set to travel to his former home of the Emirates Stadium for a Champions League league phase clash on 13 October, shortly after the return to action following the current extended international break.

Despite his age and impending retirement, the Frenchman will be expected to have some involvement in North London, having played in each of Les Dogues' six matches so far this season, scoring once and assisting twice.

He will be looking to inflict further pain on his former side, having previously done so after switching the north of the capital for the west with a move to Chelsea in 2018. In five appearances against Arsenal during his time with the Blues, he scored once and provided three assists. His strike and two of the set-ups came in the 4-1 demolition in the 2019 Europa League final.

Despite being guilty of showing some inconsistent form and his eventual "betrayal" to join one of the Gunners' biggest rivals, Giroud remains a fan favourite among much of the club's fanbase for his contributions during five and a half seasons at the Emirates.

The 2018 World Cup winner scored 105 goals and provided 38 assists in 253 matches for Arsenal, with his 73 strikes in the league seeing him rank as their fifth highest Premier League goalscorer of all time, sitting behind Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Robin van Persie and Dennis Bergkamp.

He also won three FA Cups and three Community Shields, scoring against Manchester City and Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium as well as setting up three goals in two of the cup finals.

Knowing it will likely be his final reunion with the club that helped him become one of Europe's most well-known strikers of the 2010s as well as a legend of French football, Giroud seems set for an emotional return to Arsenal, but he will be eager to make his mark as he goes to battle with his former side one more time.

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