Prologue
The last time Olivier Giroud was injured playing football for the Arsenal was on August 23rd, 2014, and it happened after the Frenchman had scored a goal in the 89th minute to help the club cancel out two first half strikes by Everton. He made a seemingly routine challenge for a ball in the Everton box and went down in a heap after landing awkwardly. Initial thoughts that this was a minor injury were rudely corrected by reports in the media of a leg-break and at least 3-months absence. The club promptly pulled the trigger on a deadline day signing of Danny Welbeck who had been belatedly put on the market by Manchester United. Welbeck took time to settle and it was an out-of-body start to his Arsenal career by Alexis that provided the Gunners with another consistent goal-scorer.
By the time Giroud returned to the team in round 12, coming off the bench to score a screamer in a losing effort vs Manchester United, Arsenal was already 11 points behind Chelsea with 4 wins, 5 draws and 3 losses and lying 5th in the league. Twenty games later, with Olivier gradually eased back into the first team, Arsenal went on a domineering run of games winning 16, losing three (3) and drawing once (1). His personal tally on April 4th was 11 goals, scoring seven in a six-game stretch between February and that date, leading the club to 2nd place after 31 games, only three points behind Chelsea, the eventual champions. But at that point the mob from Fulham had three games in hand; the damage had long been done in Giroud’s absence. April 4th has a major significance as it marked the date of the last goal for the season by our French hitman. In the next eight (8) games, without his goals, Arsenal’s already improbable title challenge fell away; winning 3, drawing 3 and losing 1.
Thus when Giroud went down injured at 43 min: 30 second in the game with Swansea on Saturday I had a total reprise of Everton, August 2014.
Two Minutes of Hell
The first half of the Swansea v Arsenal game was niggly and tentative. Both teams were having anxious moments. As the half drew to a close our battling Frenchman received a ball under considerable pressure from the opposition and in the process of successfully maneuvering the ball to a team-mate there was a clash of knees with Montero, their nippy left back. He went to ground writhing in pain with his left leg propped close to his body, unmoving.
Initially his teammates ignored his somewhat somnolent state. I suspect they must have thought he was feigning injury to win a free kick. They were trying to pass their way into the Swansea box and as Ozil received the final pass, I said to myself he will be confused because he doesn’t know Giroud is injured and there is no big man in the box for him to locate his pass. Just as I thought, he dithered because of the paucity of options allowing the onrushing defenders to smother him and eventually the ball aimlessly rebounded from his legs, out of play. This triggered the ref’s whistle, stopping play and signaling Colin Lewin to come onto the field to attend to the stricken player. From the tv broadcast the commentators heightened the tension by emphasizing Giroud is “seemingly in agony”, he is “waving at the bench”, his “knees buckled”, he may have damaged his “medial or lateral ligament” and on and on.
Lewin’s initial attempt to put his hand on Giroud’s knee did not seem promising. His wailing and finger-waving seemed as intense as ever while the physio tries to extend the stricken knee. After the initial handling the physio reaches into his collar for his earphone and apparently communicates to the bench. As is now standard for football coverage, this covert chat is the signal for the cameras to pan to the sidelines and focus on AW’s face which is emotionless and inscrutable. Usually when an injury is serious there is immediate movement on the bench but I regard the lack of action as meaningless. There is no substitute for Giroud on or off the bench. I am now resigned to the stretchers.
But ever so quickly the cameras refocus to the main action. It is apparent that while Lewin has succeeded in getting Olivier to extend the leg, the Frenchman is still pointing to his knee as if they have been crushed inside. But Lewin is insistent and for the first time I am swept by some optimism. From my own experience, I know we men are such babies when it comes to pain. So I am now beginning to hope Giroud is at least half-the-man I am and is at least slightly embarrassed to be crying like a baby in front of thousands in the stadium and millions on tv, even if it really hurts. Luckily he is like us and in due course the wailing ceases and he is gradually helped to his knee. Optimism is transformed to joy as he limps to the sideline without assistance ending the most stressful two minutes of Arsenal football I have experienced this season.
Giroud eventually re-entered the field of play at the end of the first half and scampered around showing no ill-effect from the injury. In the 48th minute he scored that decisive first goal by using Mertsacker as a shield to perfectly position himself for a smart header from a corner.
So What?
You dear reader may be wondering why I am dramatizing those two minutes. Because it seems to me not many are fully aware of how significant this potential injury could have been. From my reading of a few blogs not many comprehend that our chances of winning the title drop to slim or zero should there be a long-term injury to our bearded Frenchman. At least it was not lost on the end-of-an-eraists who, in their continued belittling of Wenger, excoriated the manger and the board for only having two central strikers, conveniently ignoring the fact that Welbeck was expected to recover from his pre-season injury or the fact that City only have Aguero and Bony as central strikers despite having all the money in the world.
I am seriously curious as to why our own supposedly knowledgeable fans seem to underestimate the importance of Giroud to this squad despite having scored 65 goals and contributed 28 assists in 150 appearances for Arsenal since he joined in 2013. Over this period only Sergio Aguero has scored more goals in the Premier League.
I can only conclude that they have drunk the kool-ade served up by the pundits and pressitutes in the mainstream media who have poisoned the public into believing that Giroud is not a top-quality striker. This is best exemplified by infamous proclamation on April 26th by Thierry Henry that “I think they need to buy four players – they need that spine. They need a goalkeeper, they still need a centre back, they still need a holding midfielder and, I’m afraid, they need a top, top quality striker to win this league again.” Note he made this statement in direct contradiction to the facts; Arsenal season 2014-15 went south when Giroud was totally exhausted after going flat-out between January and April 4th.
After yesterday, and the impact of his absence due to injury in 2014 and 2013, the more relevant question is whether Arsenal can win the title without Giroud.
Positively Arsenal 
Arsenal can not win league without Giroud and also will not win league without making a signing in january
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Marvelous Shotta
I’ve taken my laptop with me on holiday and forgotten the charger.
So I will be off line until Thursday,because once the battery goes flat, I’m knackered
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Good grief Shotts I think you have nailed the pivotal quality of the man who leads the line.
The other interesting thing about Olivier is how fit he has been in the three years he has been with us. (Touches wood)
Even his broken leg kept him out for no more than about ten weeks which, considering some of the lay offs players have had, is a very short gap.
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If you spend your time worrying about what people can’t do then you miss the chance to be excited about what they can. He is a great header of the ball, he is strong, he is surprisingly deft and he is real poacher. He can also score goals from distance and is premier league proven. What he wont do is take the ball 30 yards out, beat 2 men in a mazy dribble and spank it in the top corner. If he should stay fit for the whole season it wouldn’t surprise me to see him with 25 League goals.
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I shall let that in – although by January we shall have, hopefully, Danny back and Theo firing on all cylinders. And no doubt we may return to the eternal ‘world class striker’ who is puzzle.
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That is simply brilliantly done Shotta. And it will come of little surprise to you to learn that I agree with every word.
I really enjoyed your gripping narrative as you described the events at Swansea. It takes a great writer to enthral an audience even when they are assured of the outcome before they start reading. I knew Larry would be fine, would go on to break the deadlock and be our hero again but still you had me on the edge of my seat. Bravo!
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very compelling arguement and an interesting post.
for me, arsenal squad is like a puzzle and every piece is as important as others and anyone missing makes the team incomplete. only idiots amongs the fans underrate olivier. just as they cant understand why ramsey is always inthe team or even per.
in 2007 the loss of edu cost us the title. how were we to know that a player who doesnt always start at the time could cost us so much when he is taken out of the group. that is the way arsene sets up his team. perhaps the reason why there is less disparity in their wages. and again the idiots cant understand that.
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Thanks everyone for your kind words and Steww especially who I knew would be ticked by anything I might write about our “Larry”. After Giroud’s somewhat over-enthusiastic start to his Arsenal career in 2013, Steww was one of the first to publicly declare that he would become a great striker for the club and honored Giroud with that nickname. However I do think his enthusiasm for the Frenchman has colored his opinion of my writing. But I will accept his praise gracefully while I patiently await his next blog. Everyone knows who is the real writer around here.
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With his heading ability and hold up play I always wonder how it would be to play both Walcott together up front. I know we don’t Play 4-4-2 anymore but give the number of assist he does he can easily Play the number 10 role with Walcott upfront in the games where we have stubborn defences or when we need to give Ozil a break. He can exchange with Walcott in case the wingers or the full backs are running away so that he can head it or stay back when they run in to hold the ball for them to be in a position. They can also easily shift to 4-4-2 when the wingers are creating the width and thus confusing the defenders (who will not know whom to mark playing against 4-2-3-1 all game). With Walcott’s speed he can make a thru pass or use Walcott us a camouflage to get to the wingers in the box. He can easily be an alternative for Ozil.
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i was arguing with some chelsea and arsenal fans at the end of last season that giroud is better that costa. they all laugh at me. yes it sounded crazy at the time because costa was just voted into the team of the year. but i was adamant that olivier gives more to the team that that thug. but six months after, no one is laughing at me.
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Tish and fie Shotta, I meant every word. Life is too short to waste time praising something I didn’t enjoy.
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Fantastic stuff Shotts,I thought he was brilliant on Saturday,I’m with you-if he stays fit,we’ve got a great chance of winning the league,I just wish he wouldn’t be such a drama queen when he goes over! I see George has gone on holiday,my money’s on Bangkok😀
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Giroud – the lump
Walcott – the speedster
Welbeck – the all-rounder
There’s the trident.
And in addition there is:
Sanchez – the maverick
The loss of Walcott the season before last was as big a blow as losing Giroud last season? It was only towards the end of last season that this rebuilt arsenal front line were fully armed and available, and then they lost Welbeck *sobs* but to be fair to the players that didn’t stop them turning in the best FA cup final performance that many can remember. Lots of good goals!
After the first few weeks of the season it seemed ridiculous to look at the GD column to see how far off Gangsta-Satrap City* the Arsenal are.
Yet after the weekend it’s down to just five goals. There’s a long way to go but that is very encouraging. Recent City-Arsenal games as the City players themselves have consistently said, they’ve been the best games in the league these past few seasons, and the Arsenal have been their best opponents.
Arsenal go to the City of Manchester municipal stadium that was kindly gifted to the Emir for not buying arms to ship to even more dodgy geezers in May.
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The Xmas Crunch sees Arsenal play City five days ahead of a trip to Southampton, then the dreaded 48 hours before Bournmouth come to London on Boxing Day.
Hopefully two of three from that trident will be available through to the new year.
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Vijay,
The Great Neville after the Munich game:
“Arsenal were playing a four four two when Ozil driopped a little further back in midfield.”
Indeed they were. At times. When they felt like it. The coaches might have been involved too.
Kevin Kilbane on the BBC this past weekend
“Campbell was somtimes playing as second striker next to Giroud”
Indeed he was. At times. Like Walcott used to when he played Right alongside Giroud, such as during the last victory in Munich.
If these petty plundits watched the Arsenal every week perhaps they’d figure it out? I can’t pretend that I know what’s going on but it’s fair to say that AFC have been pulling 442ish shapes when they feel like it.
“With his heading ability and hold up play I always wonder how it would be to play both Walcott together up front”. It’s already happened. it just so happens that in the recent Munich game Giroud came on and played like a prince knocking the ball down with the most incredible control for the likes of Sanchez, Chamberlain and Ozil. The coaches would want their strikers to stay fresh and hungry and if that means knock downs for Sanchez and others till Welbeck is back I think I’ll be ok with that.
I think there’s a stat where Alexis and Giroud have yet to assist each other?
It’s coming, hopefully on Wednesday, and that’ll be another step forward for this squad.
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Brilliant analysis to a brilliant question Shotts. In my lifetime much of ARSENAL’s success has been based on a big man who could control the ball and bring the rest of the team on to them Kennedy and Smith being the most successful. It wasn’t really till Bergkamp and Henry that the 1-1 forward line was established.
The thing with Theo and Larry is they produce totally different forms of attack and that itself is a potent weapon. The biggest shame is we haven’t seen them reach their potential in tamdem yet.
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I think there’s a reason why you won’t see AFC hold a 442ish pose for 90 minutes.
Following Southampton’s awesome first half display yesterday against Bournmouth (who have been leaking goals) the much respected R.Koeman said that although it was an inspiring fourty five minutes of football from his impressive team it’s not possible to play like that for 90 minutes against a half decent opponent. And it’s fair to say that 95% of squads in the PL are more then half-decent these days, even for small clubs like Bournmouth that are carrying injuries. They could’ve scored some fine goals in the second half.
Koeman describes the recent games against Utd and Munich very well. Two very different games but in both cases AFC appeared to have an understanding that they could dominate the oppponent at certain times but not for the whole match.
During the recent victory Guardiola’s Munich appeared to play with two very wide forwards, let’s call them wingers on the day, ahead of their striker. The old famous pincer formation beloved of generals of old. Didn’t work for them.
But as with the 0-2 victory or even the 1-1 in Munich, they’ll still have some good chances this coming Wednesday.
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Can AFC offer an honouray position to Eva Carneiro?
A student at the Lewin School of Medicine?
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honorary
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Patience Fins
We have to wait for Eva to receive a very large sum of money from CFC before her future prospects are actively considered.
I suspect her current case to the ET will be along the lines of her never working again.
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A right on cue I see the Press Assiciation reporting Dr Eva has issued separate proceedings against the current Chelsea manager for his part in her (constructive) dismissal.
I shall say no more, just in case
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Although ‘Arry left the court room as happy as larry that particular case derailed Tottenham’s season to Arsenal’s advantage. And they held that advantage befoe going on to sign Cazorla, Ozil etc.
Then there was the karmic demise of Leeds, the Damned Utd. Poetry in relegation.
It must have really have lifted the spirits of the Gazprom players on the pitch this Saturday who’ve been making Madrid* level leaks to the press to hear the Chelsea stormtroopers singing in praise of manager above the team. heh.
*When the specialist returned you thought that such a meltdown in the camp was a possibility. He tried to gut the squad of most flair players who wouldn’t like his style, replacing them with various mules, but it appears that after losing Drogba and Cech from his camp that they don’t have the same respect for him. Hazard as predicted by many has eventually gone the same way as Robben etc. Not a surprise
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Fins: i wouldn’t mind Hazard in our squad but he would be playing backup to Alexis and I don’t see that ever happening. PSG here I come.
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Shotta
I think if Oliver isn’t defined as World Class by January, then Gawd help the doomers.
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The delightful thing is that as Dr Eva has got Jose in her sights, if it were ever to go as far as a Tribunal hearing, he would be asked a lot of questions.
And refusing to answer them would not be an option.
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Think it was when we saw Giroud improvise and copy a back heel by Cazorla to a cross from the left to score in the same game against West Ham in January 2013 that it became fair to conclude that he wasn’t a useless Lump. That was also the first time we saw this re-built squad crank it up through the gears and demolish an opponent with some quick fire goals from the Gunners.
A trait that since then has become a reasonably regular trait for this team. The sequence of quick fire goals in recent games is very impressive.
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Credit where credit is due:
If we didn’t have AFTV we might never have seen this:
And that was a month ago! Wow. Imagine how he feels now?
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What a superb piece Shotta…..
Giroud is ‘world class’. I have not seen another target man hold the ball up and bring his colleagues into the game as well. His scoring rate is pretty damn good and I never expect him to score a Thierryesque goal. I expect him to score Giroudesque GOALS! He is a great player. A clear example is the impact he had when he came on against Bayern Munich, it was huge!
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This is him four week later Fins;
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To be fair that Chelsea fan has been practising his meditation.
It’s the “in Jose we trust” campaign and the reaction to the “traitor” that has been distracting me during this beautiful autumnal afternoon.
That and the contents of a letter written to:
“Dear Mr.Abramovich,
I am writing to you regarding the many reports of late stating that you will be sacking Jose Mourinho…
…if you sack Jose you are making the biggest mistake ever. Stop paying the players and have faith in jose.
I await your response, I really do.
Yours sincerely,
…”
Stop paying the players. That’d do the trick. Help settle the squad.
I hope they keep Jose, I really do.
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Its no use Fins – we are not going to become Positively Jose !
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I thought this vine which was marked as ‘typical’ Diego Costa was good;
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A5: These Chelsea fans are so deluded. The problem with their club is the short-termism which has been at the heart of its existence since Roman took over. Being a smart Russian oligarch he saw the writing on the wall with the demise of that drunken, kleptocrat Yeltsin and the concurrent rise of Putin and those political forces who were determined to end the looting of Russia and its people. For Roman Chelsea was a political project to earn a veneer of respectability in the West; win massive kudos in England by taking over a downtrodden traditional upper-tier football club, pump in a lot of money and make it successful in the shortest possible time. Unlike Khodorkovsky of Yukos, it is now difficult to strip Roman of his ill gotten gains having earned the backing of the English establishment for his generosity and munificence in pumping millions into Chelsea, one of the stars that help make the Premier League the commercial behemoth it is worldwide.
To make this project a success Roman had to employ Mourinho who was the best practitioner of short-term checkbook management available. Nothing in his career prior to Chelsea and his stints elsewhere was marked by long-term success. He never lasted more than three years in any appointment eventually blowing up the club with his wasteful expenditure, massive ego and negative football tactics. The end result at Real Madrid, his biggest failure, was a group of players feuding amongst themselves as his leadership style led to the fomenting of cliques and a gradual draining of any desire to fight for each other, a necessary condition for footballing success. This same saga repeating itself at Chelsea.
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Lyrics, Shotta.
Both the article, and your 5:35.
Superb comments throughout.
Has PG gone to Scarborough again?
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PG, are you a hermit or on a sabbatical into the wilderness!
Pray, buy or beg a charger?
All praise and the Great Spirit for Shotta,
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OT: Piers latest tweet:
Mourinho’s won 6 League titles in 3 different countries since Wenger last won one.
That’s the difference.
I’d take him @Arsenal tomorrow.
…(sadly it )says it all really!?
Great,get rid of the manger whose team is second on g/d only, and draft in a manager whose team is 15th and whose players would apparently rather lose for than win, if we are to believe certain sections of the media.
Is this real logic we see before us Piers?
Of the major managers José is the last that I would like to see at AFC.Perhaps, it would be better for all if Piers went over to the Bridge,(as fan or manager?)stay there and go down with them at the end of the season into the championship,which is where Chelsea were most at home years ago?
Although for all his faults RA did buy a stack of the Kabakovs work, and secured an odd slice of Art History for Russia(even though none of it was made there),that captured the post Stalin CCCP (certainly an eye opener). Kabakov certainly had some narratives to share with us.
I didnt realise until the other day the the Party was still No2 in Russia and east of the Urals No1. The world would have been a very different place with Communism taking hold in Russia.Strange to contemplate it.
For a strange and dark re-look at the Cold War, take a look on YT at the time lapse map of all post 1945 Nuclear explosions by Isao Hashimoto. I thought it would be no more than ten…who asked the ordinary people if it was OK?Thanks guys, real nice of you. If you watch it its worth seeing it all to get the full gravity of what these people were doing.
“And the earth lies screaming, while I lay dreaming”.
Thanks Shotta for the enjoyable article, and to steww for the comment at 2.40pm? on Saturday-although I dont agree,although I had a couple more stories I wished I put in.Although I do agree that EC made some of the finest music Ive heard…Beyond Belief/Man out of time…truly great songs—but the list is a long one and hope you get a tribute band together!
It will be very interesting to see if AFC can keep their heads in Bayern, here’s hoping!
COYG!
Hope all’s well with the Positivists.Sorry for wandering around OT again.
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Excellent from KW as always. Sign him up George!
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Well blow me down the mobs and mkb’s are fighting it out at chelski maybe they will have a black and blue scarf movement as well. I’ve even turned talk shite back on today at four for the first time in years to see if they had a daily chelski section but no.
The difference is whether Maureen stays or goes chelski will spend their way out of trouble, an option we never had and a fact the malcontents will never either realize or admit to.
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MOB v MKB
Mwahagahhaaahh !!
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http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/ken-early-jos%C3%A9-mourinho-lost-in-labyrinth-of-own-fiction-1.2413471
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mike dean likes to celebrate spurs scoring
http://lockerdome.com/bbcsporf/6169461380096065/8174200213213204
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Excellent article Shotta. I must admit I felt like you did when Giroud went down.
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@Shotta 5.35pm
Shotta, you may like this website, especially the Analyses section –
http://thesaker.is
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Just Gotta say,
the writing on the blog this season has been as scintillating as the football.
Well done to everyone, including the comment makers.
You might have noticed on the league table that Arsenal have only played 5 out of 11 home games, compared to many of our rivals who have had 6 out of 11 home games. When you take into account we’ve played WHU, ‘Pool, Manu, Everton and the ever so charming Stoke at home so far it’s been no easy ride; in conclusion it’s beendown to old fashioned hard work to get to 2nd in the table and stay there. (Not to mention the stupid off-side decision vs Liverpool).
The City game coming up in December looks like a real title decider, and the return fixture next May looks titanic.
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Sav @ 5:49 pm
I am very familiar with the Saker site. I would also recommend MoonOfAlabama.org as another outstanding alternative to the mainstream media.
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Hehe Shotta, I should’ve guessed you would already know about Saker’s site. I haven’t been to MoonOfAlabama will give it a look. I usually look at Global Research, Oriental Review and Saker.
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some reports that Arsenal have been practicing a formation with 3 central defenders for the Bayern Munich game. Might we see a 5-3-2 formation, or even a 3-5-2
Cech
Bellerin Gabriel Mertesacker Koscielny Monreal
Ozil Coquelin Cazorla
Giroud Alexis
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It’s going to be another interesting game of football!
Can’t wait.
I’m even bored of the Gazcorp meltdown now that the football is closer. Though the following headline did make me pause and reconsider my previous feelings on the subject:
“Gossip: Capello interested in Chelsea job”.
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http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/interview-arsenal-loanee-jon-toral-being-barca-and-growing-bellerin?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social#:F2HX9G923pCfhQ
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I’m not bored of the Mourinho meltdown lol. At least the annoying hacks and fanboys are distracted and we can all live in peace for a while.
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