Wenger: Giroud can fire Arsenal to Napoli success

The Gunners manager has backed the France international to find the back of the net when Rafael Benitez's Serie A side come to north London this week



Arsene Wenger wants striker Olivier Giroud to extend his goal-scoring form when Arsenal take onChampions League Group F opponents Napoli at the Emirates on Tuesday.

The France international has been in lethal form for the Gunners this season, scoring four goals in six Premier League games, and Wenger believes there is still more to come from the 27-year-old. 

"I think he will improve and be better in all aspects of his game. At 27, you always think the best years are coming for him now," Wenger told The Mirror. 

Giroud joined Arsenal last summer from Montpellier – a transition which Wenger believes was difficult for the Frenchman.

However, team-mate Bacary Sagna believes the striker has now adapted to life at Arsenal and feels Giroud has played a vital part in the Gunners' strong start to the season. 

"If we are on top of the league today, it is because [Giroud] made a lot of improvement and he is an important part of the team," said Sagna.

"We need to give him time and I think he will improve even more, and be more decisive.

"He questions himself every day, wants to learn and improve, even on his English which helps a lot."

Arsenal supporters warn against offering Wenger new deal

Disgruntled Arsenal fans have stoked up the pressure on their under-fire manager Arsène Wenger by telling the club’s board it would be “inappropriate” to offer the Frenchman a new contract.

Wenger’s deal expires at the end of the season but having failed to win a trophy in the last eight years, the 63-year-old is facing more heat than ever before in his 17 years in north London.

Many of the grievances come from Wenger’s recruitment policy, with the young French forward Yaya Sanogo the only addition of the close season so far despite the board’s assurances the club had money to spend and could compete financially with the elite.

Arsenal’s French manager Arsene Wenger looks on during the match . Photo: AFP.

Fans called for investment throughout the disappointing 3-1 home loss to Aston Villa in

their Premier League opener on Saturday, with the Arsenal Supporters Trust (AST) saying contract talks for the manager must be put on hold.

“In recent weeks [chief executive] Ivan Gazidis has spoken of the club’s intent to offer Arsène Wenger a new contract. The AST believes this is inappropriate,” the group of more than 800 members, who own a handful of shares in the club, said in a statement on Sunday.

“There remain important questions about the way player identification, recruitment and remuneration processes are managed at Arsenal.

“The failings we highlighted in Arsène Wenger holding too much power have only been amplified in recent weeks. These must be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

Wenger, who has won three league titles and four FA Cups with Arsenal, told reporters after Saturday’s defeat that he and his team “work 24 hours a day” to try to identify new recruits and that they analyse “every single player in the world”.

Arsenal were heavily linked with the Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuaín before he moved to Napoli, the Brazil midfielder Luiz Gustavo, who went to VfL Wolfsburg, while Liverpool have so far rejected all advances for the Uruguay forward Luis Suárez.

ManchesterCity, Chelsea and Tottenham, who all have board members assisting on deals, have invested heavily, with the transfer window closing on 2 September.

“The fact that there is money available for squad strengthening is not disputed. The AST’s independent analysis suggests that the amount is somewhere between £70m to £100m,” the AST said.

Wenger intent on pursuing Suarez despite Liverpool's stance

Anfield owner John W Henry has insisted the Uruguayan will not be sold this summer, although the Arsenal boss is hopeful a move could still be completed

Arsene Wenger maintains Arsenal will continue their "amicable" pursuit of Luis Suarez despite Liverpool's insistence that the striker will not be sold this summer.

Liverpool owner John W Henry claimed on Thursday that his side would not sanction the Uruguay international's move to the Emirates Stadium, regardless of the bid from the north London club.

Wenger, who said on Wednesday that a move for Suarez is on "standby", has reiterated that the club will be honourable in their bid for the 26-year-old but claims a change of heart from Liverpool could allow the deal to be completed.

"There is nothing to add to what I said already about the transfer of Suarez," Wenger told the club's official website. "If it will be done, it will be done in a respectful and amicable way with Liverpool.

"I didn't read [Liverpool owner John W Henry’s] statements but we'll be faithful to the way we want to behave.

"To make a transfer happen, you need the agreement of three parties - the buyer, the seller and the player.

"We know what we want to do. The player, if I look at the statements [does] as well. Liverpool at the moment do not agree. If they change their minds or not, I don't know. We'll respect that.

"We are looking at possibilities to strengthen our squad. Suarez is one of the targets. If he's not for sale, he's not for sale. We have to accept that.