Giroud: I didn't want to make waves

Cape Town - Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has proclaimed his innocence after being sent off, along with Marco Verratti, in the closing stages of Tuesday night's 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain.

The two players in question became embroiled in an altercation in injury-time, with the Champions League fixture delicately poised at 1-1.

And, with both players already picking up a yellow card in the encounter at Parc des Princes, the referee felt he had no other option but to send off the duo.

However, the France international insists he "didn't want to make waves", and says he was surprised by the behaviour of Verratti and Marquinhos.

"Being on a yellow card, I didn't want to make waves," Giroud said.

"I obstructed Verratti, he threw himself to the ground and I don't understand. Marquinhos pushed me from behind and I don't know how Verratti falls a second time.

"It escalated the situation. It's frustrating, especially since I don't know if the referee saw what happened. I was really surprised at his behaviour."

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, revealed after the match that he had spoken with both players in question to ascertain what had transpired.

"The ball was on the other side, I did not see what happened," Wenger said. "I think the first yellow card [for Giroud] was very harsh already, it wasn't a foul.

"The second, he tells me he has done nothing at all and Olivier is honest so I believe him.

"And Verratti told me as well that he has done nothing, so I said look, 'go together to see the referee and tell him you did nothing'."