Giroud happy with confidence boost

France international Olivier Giroud says he is happy to have given his confidence a boost by setting up Danny Welbeck’s winning goal in Arsenal’s win over Norwich.

Giroud is without a goal for the Gunners since January 13 but Arsene Wenger has started the 29-year-old is each of his side’s last three games.

Giroud cushioned a perfect header down for substitute Welbeck to drive home the only goal as Arsenal edged out the plucky Canaries to maintain their push for a top-three finish this season.

It left Wenger’s team two points behind north London rivals Tottenham in second spot and Giroud says they have not given up overtaking Spurs just yet.

The striker is eager to avoid finishing fourth and having to come through the Champions League qualifiers before the new season really gets going.

“We want to finish second or third, we don’t want to play the playoff for the Champions League in August,” he told the Arsenal website. “So we need to win these last two games. It has been a long and tough season, but we are nearly at the end and we want to finish well, even though it would have been better to finish even higher.”

With fellow striker Karim Benzema ruled of contention for Euro 2016 with France, Giroud is likely to be one of the men tasked with scoring the goals for Les Bleus on home soil this summer.

With the finals now just a month away, France boss Didier Deschamps will be glad to know Giroud’s is feeling confident in his own ability.

“I try to play with my first instinct and be efficient, but even if I didn’t score I’m pleased with that assist and I will try to keep working,” Giroud said. “I will work hard to get the confidence back and the goals as well. It is always nice for a striker to score or assist a teammate. I’m pleased to be back, not on the scoresheet but on the assist sheet.”

France are 4.00 to win Euro 2016, while Germany are 4.50 and England can be backed at 9.00.