Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he did not want to sell Olivier Giroud to a rival but owed him the move to Chelsea out of loyalty.
Giroud, 31, moved across the capital on deadline day in a deal worth £18m, which paved the way for Arsenal to complete their record signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Frenchman scored 105 goals in five and a half years at the Emirates but struggled for starts since the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette in the summer.
The Gunners manager said: "I think ideally you want him to go to a club who do not compete with you.