Olivier Giroud signs new Arsenal contract to keep him at the Emirates until 2018

England: Arsenal is expected to announce the deal in the next few weeks after agreeing a two-year extension with the French striker.

It is a major boost for Giroud, 27, who is recovering following surgery on a broken left tibia suffered at Everton last month.

He is out until the New Year but is making good progress, is off crutches and is now wearing a protective boot as he looks to come back into the first team.

The deal is believed to be worth around £80,000-a-week and is reward for an impressive first two seasons at the club and shows that he is a major part of Arsene Wenger's long-term plans.

The Gunners boss bought Danny Welbeck on deadline day but rates Giroud highly and the new deal is a big public display of faith in the centre forward.

Arsenal have been looking to tie down their big players and Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky all signed new deals towards the end of last season.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have had mixed news after Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta all went in for tests after suffering injuries in Saturday's North London derby.

Wilshere, who suffered an ankle injury, is expected to be fit for Sunday's trip to Chelsea and even has a small chance of facing Galatasaray on tomorrow night.

But Aaron Ramsey, as revealed in Mirror Sport, will be out for around a month with a hamstring injury. That will also rule him out of Wales' Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Mikel Arteta is expected to be out for three weeks after suffering a calf injury against Tottenham but the international break means he may only miss two games.