Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud has revealed that he tried to copy the running style of Ukraine legend Andriy Shevchenko when he was younger.

Shevchenko was regarded as one of the best strikers in the world when Giroud was growing up, and he has said that he was a big fan of the former Chelsea player.

"When I was young I tried to run like Shevchenko because he was a fantastic player and really elegant as well," he told Arsenal's official website.

"Sometimes at training I used to start running like him. He runs in a special way and he was really powerful - short but strong. I tried to imitate his shots as well.

"I don't think [my coach] noticed though, because it was a quick try. It was not an obsession!"

Shevchenko scored 48 goals in 111 games for Ukraine.