ARSENE WENGER has no doubt "real centre-forward" Olivier Giroud will ignore the hype and turn on the style when he shares a pitch with Luis Suarez as Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium today.
Much of the talk in the build-up to the match has centred on comparisons of the strikers' relative merits.
Indeed, had things turned out differently in the summer, Suarez could well have been leading the Arsenal attack, rather than netting six times in the five games since returning to action for the Anfield side after a 10-match ban imposed after he bit the Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic.
However, Giroud has also been in fine goalscoring form, taking his tally to eight with a late header which sealed a 2-0 win for 10-man Arsenal at Crystal Palace last weekend.
Wenger said: "If some clubs were interested in buying him [Suarez], then it is because he was playing quite well, but what is important for me are the players who play for Arsenal tomorrow against Luis Suarez. I believe Giroud has proven since the start of the season that he is an exceptional striker and I am convinced that he will be up for it.
"They have different styles. Giroud is a real centre-forward who uses his power; he is really central. Suarez is more a player who goes on the flanks and is more a dribbler."
There was some discontent among sections of the Arsenal support at the thought of signing a player who also served a ban for racially abusing the Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in October 2011. However Wenger defended his pursuit of Suarez, which ended when Liverpool rejected Arsenal's bid.
"The player has been punished for what he did," the Arsenal manager said. "We have high moral grounds. We take information about the moral level of the player and when there is any moral restriction we do not buy them."
Liverpool's Aly Cissokho sees this afternoon's match as an opportunity for his team to prove they are genuine contenders for a top-four finish. The on-loan Valencia defender said: "I think if we could get the three points against Arsenal it would send a strong message to the other teams.
"We'll take it one match at a time but we have started well and we are near the top of the league, although there will be difficult matches.
"The tough ones can be against the lower teams in the league, where you might think of having a more relaxed outing. But if you're setting out to qualify for the Champions League you really have to concentrate and remain serious for each match."
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