Olivier Giroud: would have welcomed Suarez at Arsenal - but not Higuain

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud says that he would have relished the opportunity to play alongside summer transfer target Luis Suarez but was less enthusiastic about the prospect of signing Gonzalo Higuain.

The Frenchman has been in lethal form at the start of this season, scoring in all four of the Gunners' Premier League games so far and feels that he could have benefited even more from the Uruguayan's versatility, though Liverpool held firm through several bids and kept hold of their prize forward.

Giroud told L'Equipe: "When the name of Suarez was circulating, I honestly thought it was a good thing for the team.

"We would've complemented each other. Suarez can also play out wide. It would have been difficult for me with another player."


Before attempting to sign Suarez, the Gunners had been locked in negotiations to sign Higuain from Real Madrid. However, the Spanish club held out for a bigger offer and eventually sold the Argentine to Napoli.

Giroud, however, says he would have been "bothered" by Higuain's arrival, as their similar roles would have made them more direct rivals for a first-team place.

"We would have been in direct competition because he is a pure central striker," Giroud added of the now-Napoli man. "Of course, at the time, it would have bothered me a bit but I was not afraid of competition."