Arsenal Football Club is delighted to announce that France international
Olivier Giroud has agreed to join the Club on a long-term contract.
 
The
25-year old striker completed a medical before agreeing terms at the
Club’s training ground on Monday evening. The completion of the transfer
is now just the subject of formal processes.

Giroud arrives from French champions Montpellier, where 21 goals in 36
league appearances made him the French league’s joint top goalscorer
last season and also earned him a place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.

Giroud, who enjoyed a two-year spell at the Stade de la Mosson and broke
into the national team in November 2011, flew to London after
representing Les Bleus at the European Championship in Ukraine and
Poland.

The Chambéry-born player spent his formative years in France's lower
leagues, developing his game with Grenoble, on loan at FC Istres and
then at Tours FC, where he played alongside Laurent Koscielny for a season before being awarded the Ligue 2 Player of the Year award in 2009/10.

Manager Arsène Wenger said: “We are delighted to have secured the
signing of Olivier Giroud. He has a very good physical presence and is
exceptional in the air, with a great work ethic. We are excited about
Olivier joining us and he will add an additional dimension to our
attacking options next season.
 
“He has proved that he is capable
of performing at the top level with club and country, and we saw what a
big influence he was in Montpellier’s championship-winning side last
season. We all look forward to Olivier joining us and seeing him play in
an Arsenal shirt.”
 
Giroud, whose contract with Arsenal will
officially commence on July 1, said: “I am delighted to be here at
Arsenal and to be part of one of the great teams in English football.
It's a huge satisfaction to join this great club and it’s been a dream
since I was young to play in the Premier League.
 
“I was
attracted by the philosophy of football and Arsène Wenger’s 'touch' at
this club. I have always admired Arsenal with its great history and
reputation, and I now hope to achieve great things here. I’m very proud
to be a Gunner and I will give my best for all the Arsenal fans.”
 
Giroud will join up with the Gunners for the Club’s pre-season preparations ahead of the new season.

aaaanddd, Arsenal have signed another French Player.what a surprise.
no, jk. he's a great player and will be a great addition for Arsenal

what number will he be wearing?

It hasn't been decided yet, a number has not been given to Podolski neither.

Yes the worst kept secret has been finalized. BTW, isn't it a bit worrisome to you guys that Arsene hasn't been able to keep us completely in the dark about his transfers? When other teams find out about our proposed tranfers they muck up the works. I guess it's just damn near impossible when everyone's agent leaks the news these days to up their client's price tag. Sorry for rambling...

I'm happy Arsene signed another player but i really want to know how he will do starting 11 cause Arsenal default is 4-2-3-1 so there's question who will play...

Hopefully, Arsene's eyes have spotted another gem. I know he hasn't played much professional football but a striker with his qualities for 13 mill & 50 thousand/week? Can't get much better than that. Not to mention that I'm sure Arsenal will make a killing on his jersey's (apparently, all the gunnerettes are already fawning over him).

The thing I find most interesting about him, is his personality. Apparently, he delayed his football career to finish his studies at university (Wait... an educated footballer?) and was offered a good deal at Celtic when he was younger but here's what he had to say:

"If wages were a priority, I would have signed
for Celtic instead of Montpellier," he said. "For me, it's important to
have fun on the pitch, to play in front of a packed house, to feel the
love of the fans and, above all, to play in the Champions League.

"Studying [also] helped me on a mental level and on a human level. It was a necessity. And besides, it's good for you to talk and think about something other than football and meet people from outside the game."

I also like the fact that he is 6'4" should give us a presence we've been missing since Adebayor. Anyway, here are his 2011/12 stats courtesy of ESPN:
Played = 40 (starts) 3 (sub); Goals = 24; Assists = 9; Total Shots = 161; Shots on Target = 70
His shooting % isn't great though. He must learn to become more clinical against PL defenses.

He'll probably get Park Chu Young's number. Which is number 9. I think.

so we got now Podolski and Giroud i think this means Chamakh and Arshavin are going out..

why does arsenal only buy strikers?? park chu young? miyaichi? giroud? and they want lewandowski...

All the best ! 

good buy

@ T_I_M: Actually I don't feel that Lewandowski will come to Arsenal. Man Utd are more interested about the offer.

He will deliver for Arsenal. He's very good in the air, he's Contributed to 30 goals last season scoring 21 and 9 assists. Perfect partner for RVP if he stays. If not Arsenal will still do good. 

This guy is just amazing his techniques are good as well as the headers!!!!