Arsene Wenger has broken his Olivier Giroud silence declaring the Gooners are going to need him next season.

But that will only herald a likely battle royal between the club and player over his future with the Hammers keen to prise him out of the Emirates.

Talks between the Hammers and agents are understood to have taken place as the 30 year old’s frustration over his position in north London have grown after he made just 11 appearances last season.

And he is believed keen on a move to the London Stadium where the Irons are ready to pay his £100k a week wages.

Wenger , however, could be upping the ante as the battle to grab the player intensifies and is quoted in the national press as saying: “It has been a frustrating season for him because he has not played a lot.

And when he has played well, he has not always played the next match. “He has won us a lot of points when he has come on because he has scored lots of times. He has qualities that our team need.”

The 30-year-old penned a new two-and-a-half deal with the Gunners in January.