Arsene Wenger Warns Olivier Giroud Not to Expect Starting Role Following Injury Recovery

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned striker Olivier Giroud that he will not just walk back into the starting XI, once he regains full fitness.

The French striker has been out of action since August after fracturing his tibia in the 2-2 draw against Everton. The former Montpellier man was Arsenal's top scorer last season bagging 22 goals in all competitions, and following his surgery has just recently returned to first-team training.

But Wenger is adamant that he will not resume his role as Arsenal's main striker and insists that he will play the players who are in form at the moment.

Alexis Sanchez and deadline day signing Danny Welbeck have stepped in for Giroud and the duo have struck up a fruitful partnership, having already scored a combined 17 goals in all competitions.

"There are no indisputable players at a big club," Wenger said, as quoted by the Express.

"There are only players that are in form who play."

"Giroud is a player who is considered as a potential starting XI player, but he is like Welbeck, he is like Sanchez. They need to be in form," the 65-year-old boss added.

It is unlikely that the French international will replace Sanchez, as the Chilean has been in blistering form of late, Giroud will be looking to displace the England international, but Welbeck did his chances of retaining a place in the Gunners starting XI no harm by scoring a brace for the Three Lions against Slovenia on Saturday.

Apart from the trio, Arsenal also have Yaya Sanogo, Joel Campbell, Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski vying for places among the front three. This gives Wenger a welcome headache ahead of the busy Christmas period.