Arsenal news: Olivier Giroud came ‘close’ to joining Everton - Ronald Koeman

ARSENAL striker Olivier Giroud came close to joining Everton in the summer, according to former Toffees boss Ronald Koeman.

Olivier Giroud scores wonder goal in Europa League

The Dutchman was sacked on Monday after a run of two wins from 13 games.

Koeman’s downfall began when he failed to replace last season’s top goalscorer Romelu Lukaku, who was sold to Manchester United for a fee that could rise to £90million.

However the ex-Blue did have a replacement lined up, until the Frenchman pulled the plug at the final hour. 

"I had Olivier Giroud in the building," said Koeman.

"He would have fitted perfectly but, at the very last moment, he decided that he'd rather live in London and stay at Arsenal.

Olivier GiroudGETTY

Olivier Giroud did not want to live in Liverpool

Lukaku was so important for us, not just because of his goals.

Ronald Koeman speaking after being sacked as Everton boss

"That was really hard to swallow. You tell me, where you can get a better striker?

"Lukaku was so important for us, not just because of his goals. If things were not going well in a game, if we could not play the way we were used to, there was always the option to use the long ball towards him.

"All of a sudden, we were missing such a player. With Nikola Vlasic and Wayne Rooney, we had attackers who want the ball at their feet."

Koeman also thinks that playing all of the Premier League’s top teams early in the season did not help his cause.

Olivier GiroudGETTY

Romelu Lukaku joined Manchester United for £90million

Olivier GiroudGETTY

Ronald Koeman was not happy with the fixture list

"I was on holiday when I received the Premier League fixture list by e-mail,” he added.

"I looked at it and saw that five of our first nine games would be against clubs from last season's top six: Chelsea, Tottenham, Man City, Man United and Arsenal.

"I looked at it again and I said to myself, 'Phew! That is not going to be an easy run, in particular with a Europa League run at the same time'. And, most of all, because I had lost my striker Lukaku.”

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