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Giroud - It’s a quality to not be greedy

Olivier Giroud believes it is essential for strikers to be able to lay on assists for their team-mates as well as score goals.

The France striker has enjoyed a superb start to the season, and his four Premier League assists already surpass last term’s total of three.

The 27-year-old played a key role in Jack Wilshere’s stunning strike against Norwich and he says helping others to score brings him real satisfaction.

"When you have a team-mate well placed on the pitch, in a good position, you have to assist him"

Olivier Giroud

“It is a great thing because the goal was shown all over the world - I am proud of it,” Giroud told Arsenal Player.

“It is a quality when you are a striker to not always be greedy and when you have a team-mate well placed on the pitch, in a good position, you have to assist him.

“Strikers are judged on their goals but we must also [provide] assists and that is what I try to do: help my team-mates.

“It is easy to play with people like Jack, Mesut, Santi or Tomas - all my offensive team-mates. We have good relationships on the pitch and when we play one-touch football like [against Norwich], it is a pleasure.

“We try to do it in every game, and when we succeed it is fantastic.”

Arsene Wenger’s believes Giroud’s form this season is down to his technical improvements - but the striker says his self-belief has been critical.

“I think technically I had it before, maybe I progressed because we have worked on it a lot in training,” he said.

“It is also [down to] confidence. I did well from the start of the season, I had good preparation with the team - instead of last season when I wasn’t here from the beginning - and I scored early in the pre-season games.

“I feel really confident, the boss made me feel good and that is why I feel good and try to improve every day. It is all about confidence I think.”

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