Olivier Giroud admits he encouraged France teammate Moussa Sissoko to join Arsenal last week.

The former Newcastle United attacker eventually signed for Tottenham on deadline day.

"I told him to favor Arsenal," said the centre-forward. "It was a rather special ending.

"Until the end, he did not know what he was going to do or what was best for him. It's been a long month for him so it's good that the ending is done, even in the last moments.

"It's great for him, Tottenham is a big stable club of our championship. Inevitably, we wanted him after a nice Euros to join a Premier League club. He will be a competitor for the title this year. I hope he will not be fit against us!"