Olivier Giroud: This is what helped me become a key player for Arsenal

ARSENAL striker Olivier Giroud has admitted his time spent playing in the French lower divisions helped make him a tougher player.

 

Olivier Giroud joined Arsenal from Montpellier in 2012

 

The striker played in both the second and third tiers in his native country for Grenoble, Istres and Tours before joining Montpellier in 2010.

His 21 goals helped the Herault club to the Ligue 1 domestic title in 2011-12 before he secured his move to Arsenal.

And he admits having to work his way up to the top level of European football, rather than graduating from France's Clairefontaine academy has turned him into a tougher player.

"I definitely feel tougher because the beginning of my career was different to than if I played for Marseille, PSG or Lyon," Giroud told Arsenal's official website.

 

"When you have to face difficulties it always helps you in the future when you have to be strong and have to face your responsibilities.

"It definitely helped me in my career and that's why I can say that I am tougher today.

"I don't want to stop here and I always want more because when all this stops I don't want to regret anything. I really want to give everything to my limit.

"It's a sport and you have to give everything. We live from our passion because we are really lucky, but it's even more enjoyable for me because I had a different path to all of those players."