Giroud admits Benzema signing would be good for Arsenal

Giroud has netted only once in the last 11 Premier League games

Olivier Giroud has admitted he would have welcomed the signing of Karim Benzema from Real Madrid, according to his interview with beIN Sport. The Arsenal striker spoke about his fellow Frenchman being a valuable addition to his side, although he also seemed to feel that his side’s move for the player was highly unlikely.

The Gunners have been interested in the 27-year-old striker ever since the beginning of the transfer window and were even reported to have agreed a fee with Real Madrid, but head coach Rafa Benitez rejected any speculation linking the player away from the Santiago Bernabeu. Manchester City also showed brief interest in the Frenchman recently and were ready to splurge €70 million on him, but the player himself put all the rumours to bed when affirmed his future to the Los Blancos via social media.

When asked about Arsenal’s attacking options and their reported interest in Benzema, Giroud said: "The coach [Wenger] knows very well what he is doing, and sometimes you should not buy just to buy, and sometimes there are not players out there that you need, who are available.”

"We have a very good squad, with quality, and I am sure that with this squad we can go very far. But it would have been good if Karim had signed too."

Giroud will not leave Arsenal

The 28-year-old also gave his views on the growing speculation about the need for a quality striker signing at the Emirates every season, insisting that he would not leave the club even if they did sign a new player to compete with him.

"I would have been surprised if you had read a lot of things about my possibly leaving the club, because that was never on the table," the French international said, as quoted on Goal. "Now, I am very good here, I say it, I repeat it. It is true that every year here there is speculation about a new striker signing.”

"There were seasons when we signed Sanchez and Welbeck, others when we were talking about Suarez. It is obvious that in a club, a team, where a lot is expected, we need several good attackers and I understand that the fans want that we spend more money." he added.

Giroud is the only Arsenal player to have registered a goal this season, with two of his side’s three goals so far coming from their opposition’s own goals. He has spurned several chances for the Gunners in recent games and is becoming a source of frustration for the fans, who are demanding a quality addition to the team despite the presence of Theo Walcott.

Arsene Wenger’s men currently sit in sixth place in the Premier League table after four fixtures, having racked up seven points so far.