Olivier Giroud claims it is unfair to judge him on three games for Arsenal - because Robin van Persie got eight years.

Giroud has yet to find the net in a Gunners shirt and watched his fellow summer arrivals - Lukas Podoloski and Santi Cazorla - hit the two goals that saw off Liverpool last week.

Van Persie too, is off and running in Manchester United colours with four goals in his three appearances so far.

But Giroud, whose 21 league goals helped Montpellier win the French title last season, is unconcerned by his ongoing doughnut.

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He said: "People seem to think [Van Persie] is something that weighs on me, but I know that the manager has confidence in me.

"He could easily have brought in another forward when Robin left, but he didn't."

Giroud's next attempt to break his duck should come on Saturday, when Arsenal host newly-promoted and rock-bottom Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.

He added: "I'm coming in after someone who scored 30 goals last season, but who took eight years to reach that level.

"I feel that I have less time to establish myself and that there are more immediate expectations of me."

Giroud added he is not surprised by the speed with which Chelsea's Eden Hazard, another of the Premier League's summer imports from French football, has settled.

The Belgian playmaker has hit the ground running for the European champions, with one goal and an impressive six assists in his opening three Premier League games.

Giroud said of Hazard: "Not at all - he's very comfortable everywhere he goes. He's a very good player who's going to give Chelsea quite a boost."