---
title: "Giroud – I admire Afobe"
canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/2016/02/06/giroud-i-admire-afobe/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Hamdani"
section: "Arsenal News"
published: "2016-02-06T11:26:42Z"
modified: "2016-02-06T15:28:14Z"
---

# Giroud – I admire Afobe

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has praised Bournemouth forward Benik Afobe for ‘coming back’, after being sold by the club to Wolverhampton Wanderers [for the relatively small fee of just £2m](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/30798397).

Afobe left the Gunners due to his lack of playing time, having never reached the prominent land of first-team football during his time with the club.

After a number of loan spells, the 22-year-old was finally moved on to the Midlands side and was an impressive feature in the side, so much so that [he secured a record £10m move](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35275889) to south coast side Bournemouth in January.

Afobe has since scored three goals for the club and Giroud, who endured a similar path to the ex-Arsenal man in the early years of his career, admitted he has admiration and respect for him, [as reported by the club’s official website](https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160205/giroud-my-admiration-for-afobe?).

> Twitter: Arsene Wenger has explained why he allowed to allow @Afobe\_ to leave the club. https://t.co/iNMxcDLzvU https://t.co/jp3RxGAbKX (@ReadArsenalFC)

> *Football is a tough sport and you need to be ready physically and mentally as well.*
>
> *It’s a huge part of the job. When you come from a lower league, you build mental abilities.*
>
> *For* me *it was necessary because I was young and played for Grenoble with three strikers who were older than me, with more experience. I had to leave the club and to learn to wash my clothes, cook my own food and become a man.*
>
> *You know where you come from so after you might be more ready to face difficulties at the highest level. It helped a lot and in* football *you have to face difficulties when you’re young.*
>
> *It helps you to become stronger when you have to face these difficulties in the future, especially at the highest level. It depends on the player.* Obviously *it’s easier to go through an academy and then sign professionally at 18 or 19 years old but each player is different.*
>
> *You need to get more experience and more time on the pitch, it’s very important when you are younger to improve yourself. Benik has done that in the past and now he is ready to play in the Premier League. He’s showing that he’s got the quality to score goals, so it’s nice for him.*
>
> *Since he’s joined Bournemouth, he’s scored in almost all of the games that he’s played so he’s a big threat. We need to keep an eye on him, definitely.*

![Paul Gilham/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/508020264.jpg)

Arsenal come up against Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon, with both Giroud and Afobe expected to lead the line for their respective sides.