Friday, 19th September, 2014



Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has insisted that he can keep Olivier Giroud’s spirits up during the French international’s injury layoff.

Giroud, who faces a lengthy time on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on his left tibia, picked up the injury in the Gunners’ 2-2 draw with Everton last month.




The striker suffered the damage moments after scoring a last-gasp equaliser at Goodison Park, which helped his side to return home with a point.

And Walcott, who himself is yet to return to action since suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in January, explained that he can relate to Giroud’s situation and backed his team-mate to return stronger.
 


“I’ve been through a long injury myself now so I’ve said to him, ‘If there’s anything down the line you need to talk to me about from the rehab side of it, from the family side, anything, I’m there for you’”, the Englishman told Arsenal Player.  

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“I’m just a phone call away and he comes in any way in the afternoons so I’m always there to see him.

"It was such an innocuous thing that happened. But you’ve got to think when you get injured that it’s a good opportunity to work on something and Oli’s got all the attributes to [do that].

“He’s a very good athlete and he can be even stronger when he comes back from this, and that’s what I said, which he appreciated. He’s a great guy.”

Walcott, who has thus far amassed 281 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal, is expected to resume full training shortly.

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