Goals will come for Olivier Giroud, insists Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen

Thomas Vermaelen is convinced it will not be long before Arsenal new-boy Olivier Giroud begins finding the net on a regular basis for the Gunners.

The 25-year-old striker is yet to score for Arsene Wenger’s men despite featuring in all three of the north Londoners’ Premier League fixtures so far this term.

But Gunners captain Vermaelen has no doubt that the forward, who moved to the Emirates from Montpellier this summer, will open his account imminently after a tough introduction to English football.

“I’m convinced Olivier will be off the mark soon,” Vermaelen wrote in Arsenal’s official matchday programme notes ahead of Saturday’s clash with Southampton.

“It’s not as if he has had an easy start – he didn’t get much time against Sunderland, and then played in two tough away games.

“He won a lot of duels in those matches, and it’s a vital quality when you’re away from home – if we don’t see a solution, we can sometimes play a longer ball to him in the knowledge that he works hard and is strong in the air.

“He’s made some good runs and has been a bit unfortunate not to score so far, but he’s got into the positions so I’m not worried about him at all. The goals will come.”