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‘I’ve missed Champions League music!’

Olivier Giroud celebrates

Olivier Giroud cannot wait to return to Champions League action on Wednesday night - as he has particularly missed its “fantastic song”.

The France international has not played a single minute in the competition this season after being ruled out of the group stage with a broken foot.

Now fully fit, the 28-year-old is expected to lead the line in Arsenal’s last-16 first leg clash against Monaco at Emirates Stadium.

"I haven’t played a Champions League match for a long time so I’m really pleased to come back, listen to its fantastic song and hopefully go through to the quarter-final"

Olivier Giroud

“I haven’t played a Champions League match for a long time so I’m really pleased to come back in this competition, listen to its fantastic song and hopefully go through to the quarter-final,” Giroud said.

“We need it as it has been long time since we reached that stage but we are facing tough opponents. Monaco have some really good young players, even if they don’t have a lot of Champions league experience.

“But I’m used to seeing them in Ligue 1, so I am aware of their qualities. We need to make the difference in the first leg at home.”

The match will see Arsene Wenger come up against his former club, and Giroud says the manager is looking forward to the prospect.

“He is a like a sage in France,” he said. “He is really respected there, he brought a lots to Monaco and to French football.

“Obviously he has spent most of his career here at Arsenal but he has signed a lot of French players. He could have been the French national manager, he could have trained any club there, everybody would like to work with him and it will be a special moment for him, for sure.”

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