Olivier Giroud has been restricted to the role of substitute in the Premier League this season and while Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger knows the striker is far from happy with the situation he is channelling his anger in the right way.
Giroud had an extended summer break after Euro 2016 and picked up a toe injury in September which proved difficult to fully recover from.
He has featured in six of Arsenal's 12 league games this season, coming off the bench in all of them, and scored three goals including a last-minute equaliser against Manchester United on Saturday.
"He's angry in a positive way," Wenger told the club website.
“I’d say he’s more determined [than angry]. I have a lot of respect, not only for his quality as a footballer, but also for the man. The best answer he can give is always to show what he did today.
“I consider him to be a regular player. He had a long holiday [after the Euros], after that he was injured and now he’s just coming back for a few games. It’s true that in the past two games he has been a bit frustrated but that’s normal because he’s ready to go again.
“The solution of Alexis up front has worked well and I have two options at the moment. Olivier Giroud is in both options because Alexis can play on the flank. Olivier can only play through the middle, so I can sometimes marry the two together.”
Giroud, Granit Xhaka and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were all used off the bench at Old Trafford and Wenger said the quality of Arsenal's substitutes made the difference in games.
"I think we have the quality and the spirit on the bench," he added. "The two together makes us remarkably dangerous until the last minute."
Arsenal, in fourth place and three points behind leaders Chelsea, host Bournemouth in the league on Sunday.
