Olivier Giroud must consider leaving Arsenal in January

Olivier Giroud will have to decide whether to leave
Arsenal during the winter transfer window,
France's assistant coach Guy Stephan has said.
Last summer's arrival of international teammate
Alexandre Lacazette has seen Giroud limited to
cameo roles with Arsenal in the Premier League
so far this season with 12 top-flight appearances
solely from the bench.
Giroud, 31, won his 69th senior cap for France in
the 2-0 win over Wales last month, but was
replaced late on by Lacazette, who then started
the 2-2 draw with Germany.
With Lacazette being Arsene Wenger's preferred
choice in attack, and scoring eight goals in 15
Premier League matches, Giroud is in danger of
falling out of France's World Cup squad for
Russia next summer.
Stephan, Didier Deschamps' long-time assistant,
explained Giroud -- who has a healthy return of
29 goals for his country -- may have to leave the
Emirates Stadium in January to ensure he does
not miss out.
"It's clear that in terms of playing time, it's
insufficient," Stephan told TF1.
"Didier's already had the opportunity to talk
about it. He has to find a solution in the coming
weeks."
When asked whether Giroud should consider a
switch, Stephan said: "It's up to him. He's
played very well in recent months with us. He has
a very good goals-to-games ratio, but he now
has to play."