Transfer news: Olivier Giroud tells French TV he would 'prefer' Arsenal do not sign another striker in January

Forward will miss the Gunners next match against Cardiff with an ankle injury

Olivier Giroud celebrates his winning goal against Newcastle (GETTY IMAGES)

Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud has told French TV that he doesn’t want the club to sign any new strikers. In an interview with the station Canal+, the Gunners' frontman, who is currently nursing an ankle injury, said he would “prefer” for Wenger not to bring in any January reinforcements in attack.

"If the coach wants to give me a breather he can, as long as there’s no new striker. I’d prefer it if there were no new strikers at the club," the 27-year-old, who has scored 11 goals in all competitions this season, was quoted as saying.

Giroud picked up a knock after netting in the winner in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over Newcastle and will miss the New Year’s Day clash with Cardiff City, but the former Montpellier man is adamant that Arsenal don’t need cover up front.

"We have the players to play at the top of the table, we prove this in every match," Giroud said."Lukas [Podolski] is coming back well [from injury], Theo [Walcott] can play up front too. We have quality and quantity in attack."

Arsenal have been linked with strikers including Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa and Kostas Mitroglou of Olympiakos, and Gunners manager Arsene Wenger today refused to rule out an addition to his squad in his press briefing.

He said: "I don’t know if we will do something or not [in January], but it is not to replace Giroud – we have great confidence in Giroud."