Giroud signs new contract to stay at Arsenal until 2018

French striker Olivier Giroud has reportedly signed a new contract with Arsenal to keep him at the club until 2018.

Arsenal is expected to announce the deal in the next few weeks after agreeing a two-year extension with Giroud, who is recovering following surgery on a broken left tibia suffered at Everton last month.

The France international is out until the New Year but is making good progress, is off crutches and is now wearing a protective boot as he looks to come back into the first team, The Mirror reported.

The deal is believed to be worth around 80,000 pounds-a-week and is reward for an impressive first two seasons at the club and shows that the striker is a major part of Arsene Wenger's long-term plans.

Wenger bought Danny Welbeck on deadline day but rates Giroud highly and the new deal is a big public display of faith in the centre forward.

Arsenal have been looking to tie down their big players and Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky all signed new deals towards the end of last season, the report added.