Arsenal Face Anxious Wait Over French Striker

Arsenal hope to have striker Olivier Giroud available for their top four run in after the club confirmed an appeal had been submitted to the Football Association following the Frenchman's red card in the Premier League win over Fulham.

Giroud was dismissed by referee Andre Marriner for an over-the-ball tackle on Stanislav Manolev in the 90th minute at Craven Cottage as The Gunners held out for a 1-0 win.

With a straight red card punishable with a three-match ban, Giroud would be expected to miss the Premier League visits of Manchester United and Wigan Athletic which sandwich the trip to London rivals Queens Park Rangers.

The ex-Montpellier's striker's absence would be a big blow to Arsenal's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League with Giroud having scored 17 goals this season and making 10 assists in his first campaign with the north Londoners.

"Arsenal Football Club have lodged an appeal to the Football Association for the wrongful dismissal of Olivier Giroud during the Premier League match against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday," a statement on the Arsenal official website read.

"An FA regulatory commission will hear the claim and make a verdict on Tuesday afternoon."

Despite the confirmation of the appeal, manager Arsene Wenger said after the game on Saturday that he agreed with the decision of Marriner, who also sent off Steve Sidwell for a challenge on Mikel Arteta.

"It looked like it [deserved a red card], yes," Wenger told Sky Sports. "I spoke with Giroud just now and he said he slipped when he went for the ball and I don't complain about [the decision].

"We have to find a solution up front now for the final games but that can happen and we have to deal with that."

One defeat in the last 11 games has put Arsenal in pole position for a top four spot, with Giroud's goals in that run against Reading and Norwich City helping the club to a one-point lead over Chelsea, and a two-point advantage over Tottenham Hotspur.