Arsene Wenger: 'Olivier Giroud chose to stay at Arsenal despite exit offer'

Arsene Wenger has revealed that he gave Olivier Giroud the chance to leave Arsenal "at one stage", but the forward chose to stay put at the Emirates Stadium.

The France international came off the bench to score the winner in the Gunners' 4-3 victory over Leicester City in the 2017-18 Premier League opener in North London.

Giroud only made the starting XI 11 times in the league last season, prompting rumours of the player pining for a move away in a bid to find first-team football.

Speaking after the seven-goal thriller at the Emirates, Wenger told Sky Sports News: "I love the man and the player. He's a fantastic guy and he's committed.

"He doesn't want to leave and I'm happy he wants to stay. At one stage I opened the door for him as I knew I had many strikers, and in the end he decided to stay."

Giroud has been at Arsenal since 2012, and in that time has scored 99 goals for the club.