Arsenal star Olivier Giroud: This is what I think of my rivalry with Alexis Sanchez

OLIVIER GIROUD has vowed to make up for lost time when Arsenal face Ludogorets tomorrow night.

By George Scott in Sofia                                 

The French striker is set to face the Bulgarian side after previously being forced to watch from the sidelines as Alexis Sanchez has ripped apart Premier League defences.
The Chilean has grabbed the central striking role Giroud covets, and with eight goals and some scintillating performances, has not looked ready to let it go.
But Giroud is set to be handed his chance tomorrow as Arsenal attempt to make it to the last 16 of the Champions League for the 17th successive time.
The 30-year-old came off the bench to score twice on Saturday as Arsenal won 4-1 at Sunderland to extend their unbeaten run to 14 games and keep the pressure on Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
They were his first goals of the season after a difficult start that saw him return late from Euro 2016, get sent off in Arsenal’s opening Champions League group game at Paris St Germain and then suffer a niggling toe problem.
The Gunners, who beat Ludogorets 6-0 two weeks ago at the Emirates, will qualify if they beat the Bulgarian outsiders and Basel fail to win against PSG.
Boss Arsene Wenger is set to rest Sanchez with Sunday’s North London derby against Tottenham in mind.
Ahead of his first start of the season Giroud said: “My turn will come. I just need to play - and play more.

Olivier Giroud and Arsenal face Ludogorets in the Champions League tomorrow night

“I need to show I’m in good form. When I came on against Sunderland I tried to raise the team. It was 1-1 and we needed the win. Fortunately, I finished the work of the team well.
“Obviously I’d prefer to be on the pitch, but I came back late from the Euros. I was not fit enough, and then had an annoying injury.
“I needed to take my time to come back. I’m pleased to come back into contention now.
“I feel good. My injury is now behind me. I’m just concentrating on what I have to do on the pitch.”

He also insisted he was happy to face a fight for his place as long as the team was doing well.
He added: “In every big club you have a lot of good strikers.
“We can play together up front, or on our own. The team has been doing very well.
“I hope to come back. But I’m happy as long as we win. We have very good team cohesion. I’m not questioning myself too much. I’m just focused on the team.”

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is set to make his first start of the season v Ludogorets

Wenger, who will be without the injured Nacho Monreal, Hector Bellerin, Santi Cazorla and Theo Walcott, wants to finish top of the group rather than go through as runners-up and face a much tougher draw.
“It’s our prime target to finish first,” he said.
“If you can finish first, why finish second? We have paid the price many times when finishing second, having to play Barcelona or Bayern Munich. It’s important.
“But step by step: qualify first. We have a good opportunity if we win. This is a massive game. We can qualify if we win, but it will be different if we lose.”

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wants his side to finish top of the Champions League group

Wenger is set to hand full back Carl Jenkinson his first start in the competition for nearly three years.
Ludogorets coach Georgi Dermendzhiev said: “We know better how Arsenal will play now.
“We conceded a lot of goals in London - but some were because we made mistakes. Arsenal are in very good shape and if they carry on like this they will be the champions of England.”
LUDOGORETS (4-2-3-1): Borjan; Minev, Moti, Palomino, Natanael; Dyakov, Abel; Cafu, Marcelinho, Wanderson; Keseru.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Ospina; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mustafi, Gibbs; Elneny, Xhaka; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ozil, Iwobi; Giroud.
REF: B Nijhuis (HOLLAND)
TV: 7.45pm
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