Ivan Gazidis is currently in the Far East promoting Arsenal’s forthcoming tour of Asia and has been speaking to Gooners in China via the club’s re-launched Chinese website.

In a Twitter-style Q&A session, the club CEO hinted, perhaps aware that speculation is mounting about the possible signing of French international Olivier Giroud, that the club would announce ‘exciting’ news on the transfer front in the near future.

“We have to take a step further and win the Premier League or win the Champions League – that’s what our goal is. We added an important player in Podolski and we will have the return of Jack Wilshere this year, which will be a big boost for the team.

“We are also talking to people in this summer’s transfer market, I think there will be something exciting for our fans to be happy about.

“We want to do business carefully. We don’t have to add many players, but we have to be very selective. The players we add must bring something to the team. That’s what Wenger is doing and he’s done a good job over the year to identify special talent. I am sure he will do it again.

Gazidis also reiterated the club’s ‘silent’ stance on the Robin van Persie contract situation, despite being quizzed again by concerned fans.

“As for Robin, we had a good discussion with him at the end of the season and we agreed that he will focus on the European Championships and we wouldn’t say anything about the discussions. We ask for our fans to be patient while Robin participates in an important tournament.”

Asked if Thierry Henry could return to the Emirates again, Gazidis made clear that the Frenchman would always be welcome in N5, while joking that his goals in the recent loan spell have meant the club have had to change all manner of stadium tributes to keep his goal record up to date.

“Thierry is a part of our football club, he came to train with the team and nobody expect he would end up playing for the team.

“We had already erected a statue for him, and all around the stadium we have records for all of his goals, and then he created some problems for us by scoring more goals. We had to go all around the stadium, and the statue, to change the number of goals he’s scored. If he comes back again to play we may have to do the whole process again!

“It’s obvious that Thierry is very connected to the club and has real love for the club. At the moment though he is still playing for the Red Bulls and doing very well.

Who knows whether he could play an important role at Arsenal in the future. So many players that leave Arsenal want to come back and that says something about the football club. Thierry always has a place in Arsenal.”

Thanks very much to @SiuFay for the link.