Olivier Giroud could struggle to reclaim a starting spot at Arsenal because of Alexis Sanchez's good form, his France teammate Laurent Koscielny has said.
Giroud has yet to start a game this season for Arsenal after returning late from the European Championship and then suffering a toe injury at Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
He is expected to be back fit after the international break but faces a battle with Sanchez for the lone striker role, with the Chilean recording five goals and four assists so far this season.
"It's a delicate situation for him," Koscielny said while on international duty with France. "We came back late following the Euros. We joined the squad at another time. It took us more time to get fit.
"Olivier needed a little more time than others. Then there is a lot of attacking competition at Arsenal. Alexis Sanchez is playing exceptionally well so it's complicated to replace him in the starting eleven."
Koscielny also returned late after helping France reach the Euro 2016 final but was rushed back into the starting lineup because of a centre-back crisis.
And Koscielny, who is acting as Arsenal's stand-in captain in the absence of the injured Per Mertesacker, backed Giroud to once again prove critics wrong.
"I know Olivier and he's experienced much worse. We know his mental strength," Koscielny said. "One season is very long so he'll have his chance during the following weeks. He'll then have to answer the call."