Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud insists he never wanted to leave Arsenal last year.

Giroud's five-and-a-half-year spell at Emirates Stadium came to an end when he was sold to Chelsea after Arsenal signed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January 2018.

The 32-year-old has won the FA Cup and Europa League with the Blues, as well as helping the side reach last season's Carabao Cup final.

"I didn't want to leave," Giroud said to BBC Sport.

"I spoke with the boss - at this time, Arsene [Wenger] - and I told him: 'Look, gaffer, I need some game time to play at the World Cup, that's massive for me.'

"At the end of the day, we won it, so it was very important for me to leave.

"It was tough for me, but it was amazing to sign for a club like Chelsea. It was like an improvement for me because - OK, it's Manchester City now - but Chelsea have been the best club in England over the past 10 years.

"It was a new challenge with big motivation, big targets."