Elan. I like things to be done with it. I enjoy it when a certain flair, a superfluous decoration lifts an otherwise mundane event. Only this morning as I stumbled, eyes half closed with all too recent sleep, to buy my morning loaf (not, I’m sorry to report, from a ancient rustic baker up at four thirty am grinding the grains and proving the dough in his age old way, but rather from L & F Jones Convenience Store. It is that at least. Convenient, I mean) I passed a woman, disheveled of aspect looking as if she may have spent a cold and uncomfortable night on a park bench or indeed in the doorway of L & F Jones’ small and conveniently situated retail outlet. This is a sartorial effect affected by many of the good folk of Radstock and the surrounded motley of desirable hamlets and disreputable villages so I wasn’t in any way put out by her frankly startling appearance. Instead I threw back the gate through which I had recently passed and, with exaggerated politeness, a beaming smile and – was that the merest hint of a bow? – gestured her through in a manner more commonly associated with those Italian policemen one sees on travel programmes performing an elaborately serene white gloved ballet while precariously positioned at the centre of an apparently terrifying twenty four lane traffic intersection.
It was only as I made my way back clutching my wholemeal sliced that it occurred to me just how delighted the lady had seemed at either the minor kindness I had done her or the extravagant nature with which I had carried it off. I prefer to dwell upon the latter. Sometimes in life my silliness, my exaggeration, my deliberate unnecessary show-boating has brought me nothing but frowning incomprehension, and sadly has occasioned more than a furrowed brow, indeed I have even experienced naked aggression from those creatures (and we have all met them) for whom evolution has remained nothing more than a theory. These people seem to pass through life leaving knuckle trails of discontent as they glower and snarl at perceived threats and challenges to their dreary status quo. They rhyme arty with farty, believe what they read, judge books by their covers and mistake honesty for rudeness. I have little time for these folks for whom leaving the oceans was mistake, never mind coming down from the trees. I prefer the spontaneous passing pleasure exhibited by the discomposed and very possibly still inebriated lady as she lurched through a gate held open for her by a mildly insane and extravagantly overweight balding middle aged buffoon in a Yosemite Sam T-shirt. In these brief moments can we sprinkle the glitter of human happiness.
Which is of course why I am such a huge fan of Olivier Giroud. I know there is a whole heap of chatter about which player people would rather see leading the line today from the diminutive and untried Joel Campbell to the non existent striker who we haven’t even bought yet with honourable mentions for just about everyone else in between. However, once Olivier, or Larry if you prefer, has regained his match fitness there is only one man for me. Even in his current out of condition condition he has still managed to prove his worth. Look at the towering, muscular header in the dying moments of the opening fixture, special not only because he won the ball by the application of brutal athletic determination by out jumping some huge defenders but then to have the wit and ability to ensure the ball dropped perfectly to Mathieu Debuchy (who was extremely unlucky not to grab the winner and his first goal for Arsenal) displayed great calm, perfect footballistic instincts.
My love for Larry has nothing to do with injury time knock downs against a tiring team no matter how much I can appreciate their worth. My love for Larry comes into full fruit in moments like that in the game against West Ham on January the twenty third of last year. He stands in the D on the edge of the West Ham area facing away from the goal, receives a square pass from Podolski who lopes into the box. Larry, takes no controlling touch, doesn’t think about making room for a shot, instead, with a deft chopping action of his left foot lifts an instant and perfectly measured pass over three defenders and into the path of the on-rushing Podolski who, despite possessing a shot that could pass through a Soviet T34 Model 1942 medium battle tank and being clean through on goal elects to pass to Santi who is in a position to pull off a much more difficult but wonderfully improvised finish, this is after all the Arsenal way.
Then there was the game against the same opponents in April of this year. Fifty four minutes gone and the scores are level. West Ham have cleared a corner. Vermaelen picks up the ball near the half way line and lofts a huge high one diagonally into the area to where our man Larry is lurking near the apex of the six yard box. Does he control it on his chest – by far the safest, most reliable technique – or does he stick his head on it as you’d expect any centre forward to do? Not a bit of it. In an audacious piece of skill that made me laugh out loud when first I saw it he elects to catch the ball on his left foot as it descends at about a hundred and fifty five mph from the edges of deep space and then crash it into the net with his right. It was quite simply as good as anything you’d expect from Dennis Bergkamp and that tells you everything you need to know. I was going to mention his part in the best team goal ever scored in competitive football on this and any other planet – yes that one against Norwich – but I assumed that particular feast of one touch skill and audacity ought really to go without saying.
These are the things I like about footballers and they are the options instinctively taken by Olivier and other players like him. To do the thing with élan, with flair, grace, deftness and invention. Not to settle for the prosaic, the ordinary. In a world sometimes blighted by the mundane we turn to our showmen to ignite the powder of creative genius so that in those brief explosive moments of joy we are lifted up, we experience the transcendent vicarious thrill that is the holy grail of all football fans. This is why I hope we see our number twelve take his rightful place in the starting line up against Everton this afternoon. Not because we have no other options or I don’t think others can do the job but because if Arsène starts him it means he is ready, he has gained the fitness he lost during the long hot summer and will once again become that vital cog in our free flowing beautifully polished machine.
We have apparently been grinding out results of late, winning and drawing ugly is the mantra du jour and if there is some truth in this (and even I must reluctantly admit this is somewhat the case in the last two matches) then part of the reason for it is our fulcrum, the man who’s one touch passes and flicks and lays off provide the vital fluidity which sets us apart as a footballing side, has lacked his usual sharpness. He huffs and puffs where we need him to glide. Play him I say. Play Larry until he gets back to his imperious best and then you’ll really see something. I’m not a betting man but I’d happily wager that Sanchez and Ramsey will both start scoring freely once the main man is back on his game.
Of course I’m well aware that writing a piece about one particular player on the morning of match day is as good a way as any of guaranteeing that Arsène doesn’t even name him on the substitutes’ bench, but you see the difference between me and all the other bloggers out there is I don’t pretend to know the future. But I do know this, it’ll be brighter with Larry in the team than without him.
[ED] Thanks for that Stew, It was a real treat.
Positively Arsenal 
Marvellous.
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Top title for our very own lumbering dinosaur. Except he isn’t, and as you rightly say Stew, he is much more gracefully evolved than most of his detractors.
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Never mind having Olivier starting,it’s great to see Stew starting on here again-PA’s number 10. Gonna be a tough game this evening,hopefully more minutes in our legs from Tuesday will see us a lot sharper,none of the experts (our own ones included) fancy us do they? It’ll be just like Arsenal to go and win at Goodison and shut a few people up.
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As good a football article as you’ll read anywhere this bright, fresh autumnal August afternoon – as much a joy to read as Stew’s main subject is misunderstood, and by so many who should know better.
OG’s main crime is, surprise surprise, his abject failure to score a hat trick every game. If he could just do this one small thing then all would surely be rosy in the Arsenal garden. Or would it? Because doubtless some would remain to claim he should have scored four, or that three was the minimum requirement against x, y or z opposition (who were probably having an “off” day anyway).
Arsenal fans eh? You gotta love ’em.
Thanks for a great piece Stew – don’t be a stranger; your erudite wisdom and insight, even if it is not actually “in the know” is still nonetheless “good to know”.
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Thank you for that, I really enjoyed reading it
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An absolute joyful read.
How people don’t rate Larry, is beyond me.
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It will be fantastic to have Larry back to his best, just as it is to have Stew back and his brilliantly written insightful posts.
Every ARSENAL match day should start like this.
I’ve always loved the Alan Smith type player who’s ability is individual but not individualistic and so brings the best out of those around him. All managers like this type of player too and historically most successful sides have such a type in their line up. Its a shame that the general ARSENAL following are not as clever as Stew!
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Great article, Stew. I couldn’t agree more.
The sheer audacity of Giroud to try what he did against West Ham with taking down the lofted ball separates him from the merely efficient. To actually succeed shows he is a footballer of immense skill and imagination. For me, it was one of the goals of the season. I had the same reaction: laughter. Football as art.
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metal giroud solid
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Steww
You must understand that a great many, many, many of us here were so disappointed when you decided to take a sabbatical…..
Top post as usual…..
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Just typical. After a long wait, two buses in quick succession both of top, top quality. Fins and Steww you have both done excellent blogs. The thing that strikes me is the balanced maturity of your observations of our great club and our players. None of that whiny, emotionalism of so many of the Arsenal blogsphere and twitter.
Full Metal Giroud indeed.
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I’m glad I didn’t mention the buses……
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Welcome back Steww
Even though I’ve always been a fan of the Glen Helders of this world (don’t laugh, he was quick!), early experience taught me that I’d be an idiot to ignore the type of players who could do what Smith did against Zola and pals
I had a very good view of the goal from Vermaelans great pass against West Ham, and I had a great view last week as he rose to out lump two of the Palace lumps at the back to set up the winning goal. Also had a nice view of that back heel that won the FA Cup…
…it’s going to be an interesting season
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Thanks Shotta,
I just assumed that most Everton and Arsenal fans look forward to these games.
No self-flagellation over the latest rumours leaked by some agent or other:
a football match, to be watched and enjoyed.
Would love to hear Frank’s thoughts in the wake of the End Of the Era,
if anyone could track him down
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What the WOBs End of an Era would’ve looked like: if they’d been in charge.
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Stew’s back! And with such flair, such grace. Just like our man Larry. Tipping him to score today. This one won’t be easy, but I think we’ll take it.
Hubby and I are off this morning to watch our innaugural game with the newly formed Magic City Arsenal Supporters Club. (Magic City being the nickname for Birmingham, AL, for those who don’t know – which would be all of you). I think there will probably be about 7 or 8 of us. Looking forward to it so much. #UTA!
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Brilliant Fins. Not seen that before but you’re right that is the twitterati’s approach to the transfer market.
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Alexis starts as CF
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Good odds on Cazorla and Giroud to come on in the second half
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More on Stew’s chosen theme, this time from the always excellent, consistently consistent Daniel at North London is Red blog:
http://northlondonisred.co.uk/a-top-quality-striker-for-arsenal/
Recommend.
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Steww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111111
That is all
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Well fat lot of good my support for Giroud did. Must be trying to confuse Everton to death.
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Many joys to reading a steww article on a Saturday.
Now if only George could persuade Poznan to write up the occasional guest article on PA and our dream team would nearly be complete.
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I’d counter argue steww, OG is so important to us that we have to save him for next Wednesday night.
Let’s see how Özil and Alexis play together.
My only worry is Everton targeting nacho by playing Lukaku down his wing.
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Cagey start. Everton passing very neatly. Piennar a bit of a loss though.
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DC – same tactic they used last time with Lukaku but we are ready this time. You are of course correct about Larry but we want to see our favourites every game don’t we? I want to see Tomas every game but when your TR7 is getting old and you might come to rely on it you use it sparingly I suppose.
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Poo
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Well how offside does it have to be?
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Disappointing to be 2 goals down. Blatant offside on #2. We have a lot of work to do to get anything out of this.
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Disappointing first half, apart from the scoreline, we look a little off the pace all over the pitch nothing quite clicking. Still a long way to go, if they can score two in 45 so can we.
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A bit to do from here. If four across the middle means no one taking responsibility then I think we need to go back to a tried and tested.
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Hate to say it but our best player is off form and it’s dragged the over all performance down. Be interesting to see how we respond. Go gung ho to recover the two goals and we could end up on the wrong side of another embarrassing scoreline but sit back and wait for the opening and things may well stay 2 – 0.
Not a happy place to be. However if we grab an early goal the entire complexion of the game changes, Everton have to decide whether to stick or twist at 2 – 1 and no team likes to play in two minds.
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I love that Bill Murray film, where he relives the same day over and over again…. Just cant remember the name though…
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Kick my Arse karma!
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Larry does it again. Steww knows!
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Smack me up good(ison) stylee!!!!
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Bloody hell. This defibrillator pays for itself.
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Tell you what I liked most about that. When facing a real uphill struggle we didn’t just tear at them like we’ve done in the past. When it works (5 – 2 against Sp*rs springs to mind) it’s glorious. When it doesn’t we end up shipping a hatful of goals.
Far from our best today but that maturity not to rush but to keep plugging away right to the very end is good to see.
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Cazorla and Giroud off the bench (IBSF)
Strength in depth innit
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Annoyed by that second Everton goal but boy, what spirit shown by the team! Others would’ve fallen apart when so obviously robbed in clear daylight, but not our Arsenal. Well deserved point and a massive improvement on losing 3:0 last season over there, especially considering how Everton have further improved. Now time for the midweek clash, we really need to give it our all.
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I don’t know about you lot but I’m as happy as Larry about that comeback,can’t wait for Wednesday now,we’ll be alright.
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We could easily have a single point after games, yet the team never gave up and we now have 4! When the lino gave em that 2nd goal I feared the worst TBH… And how appropriate that Giroud is the player to get the equaliser.
The shite he has received after 2 games was pathetic.
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very very happy with the result.
we are just about getting started..that was a really good match at the beginning of the season.
i have one concern though ..young Jack needs to focus more.
ozil the maestro needs to focus on defending too..
it was a good test for chambers..he might not have come out of it with flying colors but i’m sure this game will see him improve.
why is chamberlain in such a hurry? hehe. everyone else had an average day..decent day if you bake in the recent turkey trip.
common arsenal! the players (giroud full marks) attitude was inspirational really..not many teams can come back from 2 nil at goodison..
onwards we go!
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I am busy on twitter bigging-up my boy Steww, the only blogger to go on record and stand up fully for our boy Larry. By my count Giroud had 5 attempts in that 2nd half, more than anyone and he finally made one count. At 2:1 I said we would get one more chance and we must big-up another of the scapegoats, Monreal, for not giving up on Ramsey’s wayward cross and crossing straight on the noggin of our handsome Frenchman.
My Saturday is made.
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Outstanding come back against a side that is unlikely to drop many points at home.
We are still getting up to speed and when things start to click more consistently for us life will obviously get easier.
But yet again, a game of fine margins almost gifted to a side benefiting from piss-poor refereeing – two bad calls for the same goal equals an unfair advantage whichever way you look at it. A ref with a video replay screen could have saved Kevin Friend from himself but no, we’d prefer to have games won, lost and drawn like the lottery it currently is.
Well played Arsenal for never, ever giving up.
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I wonder if the slow start (in terms of form not points on the board) will serve us well in the long run. We faded after a good start last time so you never know. As ever the key factors will be injuries, form of key players and how we fare against the other top 6 teams.
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Stew with his head in the future articles can you choose my lottery tickets. Amazing all those slags who have been telling the manager what to do all week got it wrong again. COYG
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It was moyder for me, having to rely on BBC sport website for updates… And the ridulous texts and tweets they chose to post…
No one really mentioning the fact the team had a tough Euro away day early in the season when players aint at 100%…
The fact we aint setting the league alight but getting results is a fantastic sign…
I can get happy drunk now…. instead of moody drunk!
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Been thinking that too. A slow start while not dropping points, especially in a world cup year might be good for the season.
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Everyone on here take a bow. Giroud and Monreal, the 2 supposed weak links salvage us a point. Our fans on twitter ate a fucking disgrace.
Oh, and well played Stew.
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