Oliver Giroud is a French striker who now wears an Arsenal football kit following his move from Montpellier in summer 2012.  This season Giroud, who wears a number 12 Arsenal football shirt, has been Arsenal's second highest scoring player so far netting 17 goals, he has however been given a 3 match ban following a red card at Fulham last weekend for a challenge against Stanislav Manolev.  With only four Premier League matches left to play this season losing Giroud is a blow for the team who are not yet guaranteed a spot in the Champions League competition.  The ban was contested by manager Arsene Wenger after the match as Giroud claimed to have "slipped whilst going for the ball", the Football Association have however upheld the three match ban and Arsenal will play the next three matches without Giroud in his Arsenal football kit.

Arsenal are currently third place in the Premier League table, closely followed by London clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs in fourth and fifth, with only two points separating these three rival teams the battle is on to secure a much coveted Champions League place.  Manchester United have already secured victory as Champions of the Premier League 2012, they will travel to the Emirates Stadium this weekend for their match against Arsenal on Sunday. Without Giroud wearing his Arsenal football kit Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, will have to make some tough decisions to field the strongest possible team knowing that every point is vital if he is to continue his reign at Arsenal with never failing to secure a Champions League place.

This weekends match against champions Manchester United is likely to be heated, with emotions in the Stadium running high following Robin Van Persie's controversial move up north to Manchester United from Arsenal last summer for a fee of £24m.  The host team in their Arsenal football kit will reportedly give the newly crowned champions Manchester United a guard of honour before the match on Sunday, a campaign on social media site Twitter is encouraging Arsenal fans to turn their backs on Manchester United doing what is referred to as a 'Poznan'.  The Arsenal team will need to keep their heads and play their best football, without striker Giroud, on Sunday if they are to beat Manchester United.  Alex Ferguson will not be letting his team relax now the title has been won, the current record for most Premier League points scored during a season stands at 95, if Manchester United score the full three points from each of their remaining games they will break this record with a final score of 96 points.  Arsenal have not lost a match at home in a Premier League game since January, the team will proudly walk out in their Arsenal football kit hoping to maintain this record and squash Manchester United's chances of gaining another achievement this season.

Buy your Arsenal Football Kit today and support your team in their match against Manchester United this weekend.

What do you think should Giroud have received a three match ban? Can Arsenal stay third and secure a Champions League spot without him?

Tracey writes exclusively for Soccerbox where you can purchase replica football shirts for teams in the Premier League and other popular leagues in Europe and the rest of the world.