Olivier Giroud Injury: Updates on Arsenal Star's Ankle and Return

Updates from Wednesday, Aug. 27

Sam Wallace of The Independent passed along comments from Arsene Wenger on Olivier Giroud's health:

Updates from Tuesday, Aug. 26

Rumours are growing that Olivier Giroud will miss the next three months of the season due to the injury picked up against Everton.

Wayne Veysey of Goal.com claimed on Tuesday:

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud's injury is worse than first feared with the Frenchman possibly facing a lay-off until the New Year.

Gerard Brand of The Daily Mail reported on another potential timeline for the striker's return:

Giroud, who picked up an ankle injury in the dying moments of Saturday's 2-2 draw at Everton, scored the equaliser Goodison Park, but could leave Arsenal short up front for the next four months.

Arsene Wenger could only confirm that Giroud will miss the Besiktas match during his Tuesday pre-match press conference, as tweeted by Arsenal's official account:

The Telegraph noted a further detail revealed by Wenger:

Updates from Monday, Aug. 25

Matt Law of the Daily Telegraph reported the latest on Olivier Giroud's injured ankle:

Arsenal fear Olivier Giroud could be ruled out for as long as three months if a second scan confirms that he has a broken ankle.

That would leave Arsène Wenger facing a race against time to sign a new striker before the transfer window shuts next Monday.

Giroud sustained the injury in the dying seconds of the 2-2 draw at Everton after scoring Arsenal’s late equaliser. Arsenal are hoping Giroud has not sustained a fracture, but there is major concern at the Emirates that there is a break, after the Frenchman was sent for two scans.

The club are mindful of the fact that a hairline fracture to Jack Wilshere’s foot only showed up on a second scan after the initial swelling had gone down.

 

Original Text

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has come up big once already in this 2014-15 season, but the Gunners may be without him after he tweaked his ankle late in Saturday's 2-2 draw to Everton.

Giroud went down with an ankle injury in the closing moments Saturday, putting his status in doubt for Wednesday's crucial Champions League play-off second leg against Besiktas. 

Manager Arsene Wenger added more on the Frenchman's situation, per Sky Sports via Fox Sports.

"It is a big game and I hope that we have not lost him," said Wenger of Giroud. "In the final minute he stretched his ankle. At the moment it doesn't look too good."

The 27-year-old Frenchman substituted on for the second half Saturday in relief of Alexis Sanchez, watching the Gunners fall in a 2-0 deficit before they rattled off two late goals to win a point. Giroud was the difference in the end, skying up for a header in the 90th minute to net the equalizer. 

A few short minutes later, Giroud went down clutching his ankle. Per Sky Sports, he was seen leaving Goodison Park in a protective boot. 

Giroud's potential absence could leave Wenger in a bind as Arsenal enter Wednesday's second leg tied 0-0 on aggregate. New Chilean signing Sanchez was a non-factor as the No. 9 on Saturday before Giroud replaced him, and the veteran's arrival on the pitch helped to jumpstart the Gunners' attack. 

What's more, occasional striker replacement Yaya Sanogo didn't even travel with the team to Turkey last week as he recovers from a hamstring injury suffered against Crystal Palace in Week 1. It's unclear whether his status has changed this week.

After 90 minutes without a goal in the first leg against Besiktas and early struggles Saturday at Goodison Park, perhaps Wenger will pull a trick out of his bag should Giroud not be able to go on Wednesday.