Arsenal workhorse Olivier Giroud insists playing every match is no 'mare
Striker has appeared in 16 games already and has only Bendtner as back-up but isn't complaining PLUS Wilshere on Dortmund loss
"I feel good": Giroud - the James Brown of north London
Getty
Olivier Giroud insists he will not suffer burn-out despite his marathon season, writes John Cross.
Striker
Giroud has already played 16 games and Arsenal can barely afford to
think about resting him, despite their gruelling fixture list.
Manager Arsene Wenger only has Nicklas Bendtner as experienced back-up - as it stands, the Gunners’ whole season rests on Giroud being able to stay fit.
But the France striker - who also faces a two-legged World Cup qualification play-off against Ukraine next month - insists he can handle the pressure and physical demands.
He also believes Arsenal will bounce back from Tuesday's Champions League defeat to Borussia Dortmund with a win at struggling Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Giroud
said: “I feel good. Maybe I will have some rest next week, for the
Capital One Cup [Arsenal play Chelsea on Tuesday], I will speak to the
boss.
"I’m used to playing a lot of games and I feel good with my body so, touch wood, no injuries. I don’t want to find a excuse.
“We
lost against Dortmund but we have won almost every other game, so it’s
not the time to be really worried but we want to come back Saturday and
win the game.”
Meanwhile, midfielder Jack Wilshere is also
convinced the Gunners will bounce straight back even if their Champions
League hopes may now rest on them getting a result either in Dortmund or
at Napoli.
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Arsenal v Borussia Dortmund
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Wilshere said: “We can’t let this result affect us now - especially in the Premier League, where we are on a great run.
“It
will be tough away at Palace, it always is. They will fight for every
ball and it will be a different game from Dortmund, but we still have to
bounce back straight away.
“We aim to win every game, it will be tough, but we have been to Dortmund before and were unlucky not to win.
"We know we can go there to get something out of the game, and that is the aim.
“It is never nice to lose at home, but it is not the end of the world. We can bounce back straight away.”
* MAREK HAMSIK reckons Group F qualification will only be decided by Arsenal's final group game in Napoli, writes Neil McLeman.
Rafa Benitez's side won 2-1 in Marseille on Tuesday to join the Gunners and Borussia Dortmund on six points after three games.
Slovakian
midfielder Hamsik said: "It will be a real battle to get out of the
group - I have the feeling that everything will be decided in the final
rounds of matches."
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