‘It will be full of emotion’ – Lille’s Olivier Giroud on Arsenal reunion

· GetFrenchFN

If this season is Olivier Giroud’s (40) farewell tour, then it is only fitting that there is a stop at the Emirates Stadium. The former France international has said that…

If this season is Olivier Giroud’s (40) farewell tour, then it is only fitting that there is a stop at the Emirates Stadium. The former France international has said that this season will “most probably” be his last as a professional player. That comment came on the eve of his 40th birthday, which he celebrated at the end of last month.

Giroud added that he is “savouring every moment”. On away days in Ligue 1, he is often applauded by the home fans. It remains to be seen what reception awaits the Frenchman when Arsenal host Lille OSC in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night.

Following his move from Montpellier HSC in the summer of 2012, Giroud went on to play 253 times for the Gunners, scoring 105 goals in that time. His six-year spell at Arsenal came to an end in 2018 when he joined cross-city rivals, Chelsea. He also had spells at AC Milan and LAFC before returning to his native France in the summer of 2025.

He is now looking forward to going back to the Emirates. “It will be full of emotion. Every time that I go back there, it is a real pleasure and I am so happy to be able to return with Lille for my last year,” he told LOSC’s official channels .

> “It is huge to see Mikel Arteta again, with whom I played when I arrived at Arsenal. He is doing incredible work. It will be very hard on Tuesday. We have to really believe in our chances and play with freedom, without asking ourselves questions,” added Giroud.

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