On October 13, 2026, the Emirates Stadium fans stood up to pay tribute to an Arsenal icon: Olivier Giroud. At 40 years old, the French forward, who is currently playing in Ligue 1 with Lille, was introduced in the second half of the match against his former club in the 78th minute, when Lille coach Davide Ancelotti replaced him with Ayase Ueda. The ovation that Giroud received was intense and emotional, reminding fans of the moments of glory he experienced with the Gunners between 2012 and 2018.
Giroud joined Arsenal in 2012 from Montpellier and became a key part of the team, scoring 105 goals in 253 games. During his time at the English club he won three FA Cups (2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17) and three Community Shields (2014, 2015 and 2017). His departure in January 2018, after a brief spell at Chelsea, was motivated by his desire to participate in the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, as he recently explained. At the time, Giroud was not a starter under Arsène Wenger and was looking to secure his place in the French team for the tournament.
The match ended with a 3‑0 defeat for Lille, but the match became a night of emotions for the striker. During the interval, Giroud approached the pitch and shared a warm hug with Mikel Arteta, the current Arsenal manager, with whom he had shared the pitch in the past. The gesture was a reminder of Giroud's long career, which has passed through clubs such as Chelsea, Milan, Los Angeles FC and, finally, Lille.
Celebrating his 40th birthday on September 30, Giroud has indicated that his retirement will occur at the end of the season. The news has generated a debate among European and American soccer fans, who are waiting to see how the career of one of the most prolific forwards of his generation will end. Lille's upcoming matches and the French club's squad planning will be crucial in determining the role Giroud will play in the final phase of his career.