Tuesday, 18 September 2012 16:01

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MONTPELLIER: Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud insists that there is no reason for him to panic, despite the slow start he made to his Premier League career.

The France international, a £12 million summer arrival from Montpellier, was forced to watch on from the substitutes' bench as his teammates ran riot in the 6-1 demolition of Southampton last Saturday.

The 25-year-old is due to make an emotional return to Stade de la Mosson in a Champions League B match tomorrow (2.45am) and hopes that a visit to familiar surroundings will inspire an upturn in fortunes that sees him register his first Arsenal goal.

Giroud (pic) told RMC Sport: "I found my first few weeks of integration successful. I feel very good at this club. It is true that there are occasions of not scoring, so I do not worry about my first goal, it will come very quickly."

Minus their latest French recruit, the Gunners continued their solid start to the new season with a comfortable victory over freshly promoted Southampton.

Gervinho and Theo Walcott both opened their accounts for the campaign, while Lukas Podolski registered his first goal at the Emirates Stadium with a superb freekick.

Southampton appeared perfect opponents for Giroud to gain some much needed confidence against, but his manager, Arsene Wenger, afforded his new striker just a brief 15-minute cameo.

"I felt that he is under much pressure at the moment and sometimes to get a little breather is good. What I will do on Tuesday I honestly don't know. I just felt that the time has come for him to not be under too much pressure," said Wenger.

Giroud, whose goals last season ensured the Ligue 1 title for Montpellier and a maiden Champions League adventure, insists that he is ready to cast emotion aside should his manager restore him to the starting line-up tomorrow.

"It is weird. It is something that destiny wants. I think it is a good thing. I have not had time to say goodbye to the fans of Montpellier and I think it will be very emotional for me,"said Giroud.

"I spent two beautiful seasons there, which will remain forever engraved in my memory. We'll see how it goes, but I will put the emotions aside for 90 minutes and do the job by winning this game."