Olivier Giroud, more than eight years after his farewell to Arsenal, returns to make his debut at the Emirates Stadium for the second day of the Champions League. The match, scheduled for Tuesday evening, sees LOSC take on the Gunners, and the Frenchman will have the chance to relive the energy of the crowd that supported him for six seasons, when he scored 105 goals in 245 appearances for the London club.
The center forward declared during the pre-match press conference that his desire to meet the Emirates again had been born since the draw. "It was something I had wanted since we qualified for the Champions League. I knew that Milan and Chelsea were not in this competition, so I was secretly hoping to return to the Emirates," he explained, adding that he felt "really lucky" to be able to do so.
Despite the nostalgia, Giroud underlined that his priority remains the team. "The ideal scenario? Without a doubt a victory for Lille. Today I am a LOSC player and, although my return here will be very exciting to manage, the most important thing remains the team. I have always considered myself a player at the service of the group", he stated. His goal is to put Arsenal in difficulty and to demonstrate that Lille is still capable of competing at European level.
The French club asked the public not to consider him a "reserve player" but a fundamental element for the season. "I can't say what our chances are, but if we are here it is because we deserve to be there. We will face this match with great humility, but also with the desire to put Arsenal in difficulty and with ambition. To have a chance we will need the best Lille of the season", added the captain.
For Giroud, who has already indicated that this could be his last season as a professional, the match at the Emirates represents an almost epic career finale. The match promises to be intense and full of emotions, with a former player returning to challenge his past, ready to write a final chapter of success for Lille and for himself.