• Striker says the players hope manager will renew his contract • Wenger digging in after vicious criticism from pundits and fans

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Olivier Giroud believes the Arsenal players are right behind manager Arsène Wenger and want him to stay on at the club despite mounting fan unrest and a poor run of form.

Wenger is determined to continue and, with a two-year contract on the table, says an announcement will be made “very soon”.

However, supporters have become increasingly exasperated with the club’s fortunes and, on Saturday, Arsenal slumped to a 3-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion after an insipid display which drew criticism from all corners, including another withering attack from the celebrity Arsenal fan Piers Morgan.

Secrecy over contract will do little to silence Arsène Wenger’s detractors | Paul Doyle Read more

Out of the Champions League, following a 10-2 aggregate defeat by Bayern Munich, it was expected that Wenger would end his 20 years at the club with his time seemingly coming to a natural conclusion.

Yet the Frenchman seems emboldened by the criticism from pundits and supporters and is focused on extending his stay, something Giroud is backing. The Arsenal striker, who has joined up with his France team-mates for the games against Luxembourg and Spain, wants the club to win the FA Cup and persevere with Wenger.

He told Canal Plus: “We want Arsène Wenger to renew his contract, to continue his adventure, because we support him. We hope we can win the Cup and that Arsenal qualify for the Champions League.”