Arsenal: Nicolas Anelka says Arsene Wenger's belief in Olivier Giroud convinced him against signing striker

Former Arsenal and Liverpool striker Nicolas Anelka claims Arsene Wenger's belief in Olivier Giroud convinced him against bringing in a striker. The Gunners did not sign even a single outfield player in the recently concluded summer transfer window.

The north London club secured the services of goalkeeper Petr Cech from Chelsea. He was their only new addition to the squad. Reports suggested that the Frenchman could bring in a striker to bolster his side's strike force.

The Mumbai City FC striker played under Wenger at Arsenal between 1997 and 1999. Anelka has urged fans to back the Gunners manager and judge him at the end of this season.

"Arsene did the same with me - when Ian Wright was there, he didn't buy anyone and I had to do the job up front. He believed in me and in the end I played regularly and played well. He made the same choice with Giroud," Anelka told The National.

"Arsene believes in his team, that's why he hasn't spent money. He believes in Giroud because he thinks he will score a lot of goals, which he already has done. When you look at the statistics he's not so bad. Arsenal won something last season, won something the season before, so why not again?

"But people have to wait and see and then speak at the end of the season. If they don't win anything, then you can say something. However, people have to trust Arsene. He knows what he is doing."

Apart from Giroud, Wenger currently has the services of Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck to lead the attacking division. However, the former Manchester United forward has not recovered from his injury and will miss several months of action after undergoing knee surgery.

With Welbeck's latest injury setback, Wenger has to rely on Giroud and Walcott to lead Arsenal's strike force. Giroud struggled for France in the international friendly fixture and was booed by the fans. His national team manager Didier Deschamps backed the striker and suggested the player was unlucky not to score.