Giroud pleads for time but Cazorla wants signings at Arsenal

LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has pleaded for time to prove he is a worthy successor to Robin van Persie but fellow new boy Santi Cazorla has urged Arsene Wenger to splash the cash.

Van Persie's £24-million (S$47.2-million) move to Manchester United and the subsequent sale of Cameroon midfielder Alex Song to Barcelona have prompted another bout of soul searching at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal players and fans come to terms with their club's dispiriting start to the season.

In the circumstances, the last thing Wenger needed was to see his side held to a dour 0-0 draw by Sunderland on Saturday, especially as Giroud and Lukas Podolski - the two strikers signed to replace van Persie - gave underwhelming performances.

French forward Giroud, who came on as a second half substitute, was especially culpable as he squandered a golden opportunity to score a late winner. Wenger acknowledged his side lacked a cutting edge in attack but Giroud scored 21 goals to help Montpellier win the Ligue 1 title last season and the 25-year-old is confident he can emulate that prolific form at Arsenal - providing he is allowed to adjust to his new surroundings.