Olivier Giroud passed up on Arsenal transfer reunion after striker’s MLS exit

Former Arsenal star Olivier Giroud opted against linking back up with former club and international colleague Laurent Koscielny. Retired centre-back Koscielny is now serving as Lorient's sportig director, but the club lost out to Ligue 1 rivals Lille for Giroud’s signature.

Giroud moved to Major League Soccer in 2024 but his spell with Los Angeles FC brought just five goals in 38 appearances. The veteran is already well on track to passing that total with his new club, netting in each of his first two Ligue 1 outings with Lille.

“He sounded me out,” Giroud told Canal Plus (via GFFN ). “I was honest with him.

“I told him that there was a chance the adventure (with LAFC) would end this summer because it didn’t make sense to stay when I wasn’t enjoying myself. So he stepped into the breach. Lolo (Koscielny) and I are close.

Lorient returned to Ligue 1 as champions of the second tier, but needed a new forward after last season’s top scorer Eli Junior Kroupi linked up with parent club Bournemouth. Lille also lost their top scorer, with Jonathan David joining Juventus, and Giroud explained the prospect of Europa League football factored into his decision

“When I had Lille, I had to say, ‘Mate, these are two different projects,’ Giroud added. “You’re promoted and will be playing to stay up, and with Lille, it is something else.

“They’re playing in Europe and at the top of the table in Ligue 1’. He (Koscielny) understood.”

Giroud missed Lille’s third game of the season, which happened to be away at Lorient. The visitors ran out 7-1 winners to climb to third in the table.

Lorient sit down in 16th with three points from as many games. Their one win was a 4-0 victory over Rennes, with starting striker Sambou Soumano on target.

"We have to know how to stay calm and humble," Lille boss Bruno Genesio said after his team's victory at Lorient. "I know very well what's going to happen over the next few days. We're going to become the favorites for the title, for the Europa League, and for the Coupe de France.

"And that's the big danger, because we have a young squad, on the one hand, and football is a constant challenge. We've just finished two very good matches with two very good results, but after the break, others are coming up, and they'll be very, very difficult."

Lille will return to action against Toulouse after the international break. After that, they will begin their Europa League campaign against Brann.

Lorient's next match sees them take on last season's Ligue 1 runners-up Marseille. Roberto De Zerbi's team have made a slow start to the new campaign, winning one match at home to newly promoted Paris FC and losing the other two.

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