Arsenal Fails to Register Giroud for UCL

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud will be forced to sit out the Gunners’ crucial UEFA Champions League clash with Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday after the club failed to register himfor the UCL group stage. Giroud, who broke his foot in August, was originally forecast to be sidelined until the New Year, which is why the club didn’t register him, but the Frenchman made amuch quicker-than-expected recovery, coming on as a substitute and scoring Arsenal’s only goal in the 2-1 loss at home to Manchester United on Saturday.

Aside from Giroud, the Gunners will also be without long-term absentee Mesut Ozil, as well asmidfielder Jack Wilshere and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who both went off injured during Saturday’s clash with United. Theo Walcott has also failed to recover from aknock picked up during international duty with England. Defender Laurent Koscielny could return after a four-week absence due to an Achilles problem.