Arsenal Oliver Giroud lies on the ground following a hard tackle during the English Premier League soccer match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates stadium in London, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014.The game ended 0-0 draw. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Indiscretion: Arsenal's French striker Oliver Giroud. Photo: Alastair Grant

Arsenal's French striker Olivier Giroud has issued an apology after a British tabloid newspaper alleged that he had an extra-marital affair.

The Sun on Sunday claimed that Giroud spent a night in a hotel with lingerie model Celia Kay prior to Arsenal's 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League earlier this month.

The article was accompanied by a photograph, reportedly taken by Kay, which apparently showed Giroud in his underpants in a hotel room.

"I apologise to my wife, family and friends and my manager, teammates and Arsenal fans," Giroud wrote on his Twitter account on Sunday.

"I now have to fight for my family and for my club and obtain their forgiveness. Nothing else matters at the moment."

Giroud, 27, is Arsenal's first-choice centre-forward and is also a key player for the France national side.

He was named on the substitutes bench for Arsenal's 2-1 win at home to Liverpool in the FA Cup on Sunday and came on as an 88th-minute substitute for Yaya Sanogo.

Speaking after the game, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said that the club would address the matter behind closed doors.

"He has made a statement and for the rest, we'll deal with it internally," he told journalists at the Emirates Stadium.

"I don't think there's much more to add to that because I want to respect his privacy as well."

AFP