Olivier Giroud has scored 99 times for us since signing in 2012 - and the France international says it would be extra-special to join the 100 club this weekend.
The forward arrived in north London as the top scorer in Ligue 1 as Montpellier won the top flight for the first time in their history, but was quickly made to feel at home in N5.
The memories of that welcome remain firmly set in Giroud's mind ahead of Sunday's visit to Anfield as we take on Liverpool.
"Honestly, I feel very proud of this number but I really want to reach the 100 goals as soon as possible," Giroud told Arsenal Player.
"It could be nice even more, because when I signed for Arsenal, my second game was an away game in Anfield and I remember that the fans were singing ‘my song’, Hey Jude.
"It was a very special moment for me and it was the first time I heard the song, so I felt very proud and it was a privilege. It’s a special stadium and it’s going to be a tough and important game, so if I can help the team to win this game I will do it with great pleasure.
"It’s always special [to hear my song] because I didn’t expect a warm welcome like that. When I signed for Arsenal, even if I won the league with Montpellier, a lot of people didn’t know about Montpellier and that we were champions so I came and some of the fans didn’t even know me.
"I was just starting my international career with the French national team and it was the beginning of a nice story for me and it’s always a great feeling. Like, for example, against Leicester when I came on and scored the winner, it was maybe one of my best moments. I still believe that there will be more and more to come."
Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
