Olivier Giroud admits he deserved 'lamp-post' nickname

He missed a hatful of chances in the round-of-16 clash, provoking intense criticism - and the nickname 'lamp-post - from his own fans.

“Maybe that nickname [lamp-post] I deserved after the game against Monaco, but I didn’t play my game,” the striker told beINSport. "It makes me smile more than anything else because I know when I am good or not."

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, now a TV pundit, also criticised Giroud, provoking a minor war of words at the time.

"It is true that Titi [Henry] said certain things in his new role as a pundit, he was quite harsh even if we can understand what he was saying," added Giroud. "I would have preferred that he said these things face to face, but I am not going to go back into it."

He also said that he welcomed the prospect of Real Madrid's Karim Benzema joining the club, even though that might put his own position under threat.

"It is true that every year here there is speculation about a new striker signing. There were seasons when we signed Sanchez and Welbeck, others when we were talking about Suarez.

"It is obvious that in a club, a team, where a lot is expected, we need several good attackers and I understand that the fans want that we spend more money. It is not up to me to answer this question, the coach knows very well what he is doing, and sometimes you should not buy just to buy, and sometimes there are not players out there that you need, who are available.

"We have a very good squad, with quality, and I am sure that with this squad we can go very far. Aside from that, it would have been good if Karim had signed too, eh?"