Arsene Wenger: 'Olivier Giroud remains important, despite striker hunt'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has insisted that striker Olivier Giroud remains integral in the team, despite the club's search for a new forward.

The North London outfit have been linked with a number of big-name stars this summer, including Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain, Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and Manchester United frontman Wayne Rooney.

"[The transfer rumours are] nothing to do with the quality of Olivier Giroud," Wenger told the club's official website. "It's just number-wise, we are a bit short."

Recent reports have claimed that Arsenal, who are said to have £70m in their transfer kitty, have had a £30m bid rejected by Liverpool for controversial striker Suarez.