Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi reveals Olivier Giroud signing was to compensate for possible Robin van Persie departure

Robin van Persie scored 48 Premier League goals for Arsenal in the past two seasons (Getty Images)

Arsenal scout Gilles Grimandi admits the club signed Olivier Giroud so they would not be "cornered" if captain Robin van Persie leaves.

The Gunners captain maintains he will not sign a new deal, with his current contract set to expire next summer, and has been linked with a big-money move to Manchester City.

Arsenal have signed both France striker Giroud and German international Lukas Podolski, which will bolster their frontline next season.

Grimandi said on le10sport.com: "We want him [van Persie] to stay, but there is only one year left on his contract so it's complicated.

"The atmosphere is good at Arsenal, he has been with us for eight years and has a real bond with the club.

"Was Olivier Giroud signed to compensate for his departure? Yes, we worked to avoid finding ourselves in a corner.

"But we are doing everything we can to keep him and we want him to stay with us.

"However, if there is an exceptional offer and he wants to leave, keeping him will be tough.

"I would never have thought, for example, that Thiago Silva could be transferable but he was for a while. There are variables that can't be controlled."

PA