Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has showed manager Arsene Wenger in pre-season that he’s ready to step up in a big way for the Gunners.

The club has consistently been making headlines this summer in pursuit of a big name striker – Argentine Gonzalo Higuain and Liverpool’s Luis Suarez are just a couple. However, Giroud’s play this pre-season may force the club to put those plans on hold. In just three friendly matches, Giroud has scored six goals. The first of those two goals came minutes apart after coming on as a substitute against the Indonesian Dream Team. He followed that with a hat-trick against Vietnam. And last week in a match against Wenger’s former team Nagoya Grampus, the Frenchman netted a beautiful header.

Even while playing weak competition, Giroud appears to be playing on a different level after an indifferent first season at Arsenal in which he scored 17 goals. He tallied 39 goals the previous season with French club Montpellier. These pre-season games appear to show his newfound confidence entering the upcoming campaign at the Emirates.

Perhaps the potential increased competition for the centre-forward spot is what’s fuelling his offensive outburst, as it has seemed to spark the Frenchman into new life. With his sudden pre-season success, Giroud has warned the Gunners’ rivals and believes the club is in better position to contend for a Premier League title.

Giroud stated: “We also didn’t lose anyone during the summer for the first time in a few years. That is good for us, and [so is the fact] we know each other much better as it will be easier for us to win more games. We just need a better start this season.”

Clearly he has set the bar high for himself and his club. The only question remains is whether he will be able to have the same success when the matches actually mean something. Arsenal open up their Premier Leaguecampaign on the 17th of August against Aston Villa.

Written by guest author Tom Jones.