Olivier Giroud: Combination with Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez vital for Arsenal's attack

Olivier Giroud has praised Danny Welbeck for his contribution to the team after transferring from Manchester United in the summer and believes that both of them can combine well to propel Arsenal to a Champions League spot.

The England international has scored six goals thus far in all competitions, including a hat trick against Galatasaray in the group stages of the Champions League. His winner against West Bromwich Albion secured three crucial points for the Gunners, which initiated a winning streak, keeping them at sniffing distance of United, who are in fourth, only two points adrift.

Giroud, who was out with a fractured tibia for a major part of the season, returned only recently and had a galvanising effect when brought on as a second half substitute against Southampton. His towering presence played haywire with the Saints backline and it was through the heroics of Fraser Forster that Southampton hung on till the final minutes.

Giroud played in a brilliant backheel for Welbeck moments after coming on, which Forster saved by the tip of his fingers, and also played a major role for the winner, when he sucked in four defenders for Alexis Sanchez to score his 14th goal for the north London club.

The Frenchman is not disconcerted by his position in the squad with Welbeck's arrival and insists that the duo can combine seamlessly to offer pace and guile to the Arsenal attack, which has been insipid thus far this season.

"With Danny we are quite complimentary. We have a good understanding on the pitch," Giroud told www.arsenal.com.

"If you are watch the last game when I came on - and West Brom as well - we found each other really well on the pitch. We can play together.

"Some people say we will have to choose between me or Welbeck. Other people ask me, 'are you worried about your place?' but I say, 'the competition is good for the team and it will be a benefit for each other'.

"A great team like Arsenal needs several good strikers so I think we will have a good time on the pitch together.

"It's like with Alexis on the pitch. When you play with a great player it's always easier to have a good relationship on the pitch.

"You are not thinking a lot about it, you just try to work on it in training and it's working really well for us at the moment, so we are pleased with that," he concluded.