Olivier Giroud has hit back at Thierry Henry after the Arsenal legend suggested he was not good enough for a title challenge.
Giroud, 28, has scored 14 Premier League goals this season in 26 appearances this season but has gone missing in some crucial games -- notably in the defeat to Monaco in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 earlier this year.
After Arsenal drew 0-0 with Chelsea at the Emirates on April 27, Henry said Gunnes boss Arsene Wenger would need to buy four new players and cannot win the title with Giroud.
Wenger disagreed with the club's all-time leading goal-scorer, saying his team is "not in need of absolute change".
Giroud responds to Henry criticism: 'I heard he was saying too many dull things. That was a bomb & it had its desired effect' (L'Equipe 21)
- Matt Spiro (@mattspiro) May 21, 2015
And now, in an interview with L'Equipe to be broadcast on the newspaper's TV channel on Thursday night, Giroud has said: "I heard he was saying too many dull things. That was a bomb and it had its desired effect."
Alexis Sanchez is the club's top scorer with 23 goals in all competitions, with Giroud on 18 despite missing three months at the start of the season through injury. The only other Gunner to get into double figures is Aaron Ramsey on 10 goals.