Arsenal's Olivier Giroud: 'I was forced to stop skiing'

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has revealed that he was forced to stop skiing when he signed for his first professional club in Grenoble.

The 26-year-old, who has claimed that skiing was a "big part" of his life growing up in Froges, has revealed that he 'misses' the mountains.

"The mountains are the one thing I miss here in London!" Giroud told Arsenal's official programme for tonight's Premier League clash against Liverpool at the Emirates.

"Skiing was a big part of my childhood. It's a fantastic thing, to be out in nature like that, you feel free. But when I signed for my first pro club, I had to stop."

Giroud moved to the Gunners from Montpellier last summer.