Gooner Daily

 

 

 

“I enjoy my stats because when you are a striker you think that we are looking for the stats and assists as well. I am OK with my stats but I know the team will need me again for the last [four] Premier League games. So I need to score again and again.” – Olivier Giroud

Down the years, Arsenal has always had its fair share of attacking talent that have wowed the fans, thus epitomizing the club’s attractive style of football. While the likes of Ted Drake and Cliff Bastin scored for fun in the days of old, modern day Arsenal fans were honored to watch Ian Wright decimate opposition defenses before the baton was passed to Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, two of the finest foreign acquisitions the club has ever made.

With the Henry era reaching its climax, Arsenal unleashed goalscoring machines like Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie to the fold and just when we thought that the club it had its predatory clinical finisher in the form of Eduardo da Silva, injury robbed him off his confidence and his career plunged downwards before Shakhtar Donetsk came around and offered him a way out.

With van Persie opting to join Manchester United, Arsene Wenger keep the faith with his new recruit from SC Montpellier Herault and in 91 appearances thus far, the French forward has smashed in 37 goals, with 20 of them coming this season. Despite his frailties and criticisms, scoring 20 goals in your second season at a top-level club like Arsenal is a good return from a center forward. With four games left, I don’t expect Giroud to reach the 30-goal mark but scoring 25 goals could be a realistic target for the French striker.

In a somewhat chronological order, Gooner Daily wants to relive those splendid moments from Giroud that proved that he’s still the club’s alpha-dog in attack.

AUGUST 2013

Goal No. One against Aston Villa at the Emirates

The home side went off to a flyer when a Rosicky through ball located an unmarked Ox that bore down on goal before picking his spot and locating the red-hot Olivier Giroud. As you would expect from a striker on form, the Frenchman’s one-timed shot eased past Brad Guzan to send the Emirates into raptures.

Goal No. Two against Fenerbahce in the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium

Arsenal drove a nail in Fenerbahce’s coffin when Kadlec fouled Walcott in the box. Giroud stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way with a well-taken spot kick. That turned out to be his last contribution as he was withdrawn for Lukas Podolski

Goal No. Three against Fulham at Craven Cottage

the breakthrough arrived when Olivier Giroud showed great improvisation as well as a cool head after blocking Aaron Ramsey’s shot to slot the ball past Stockdale in goal.

SEPTEMBER 2013

Goal No. Four against Tottenham at the Emirates

After some good work in midfield from Aaron Ramsey, the Welshman found Rosicky on the right and the Czech maestro wasted to time in sending Walcott through in behind the Tottenham rearguard. Walcott looked up and fashioned a chance for an onrushing Olivier Giroud whose finish was sheer class. An exquisite deft touch that was more than enough as it skipped past Lloris in goal.

Goal No. Five against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light

Arsenal’s opening goal arrived in swift fashion as Kieran Gibbs dinked a ball into Ozil’s path. The German schemer saw an onrushing Olivier Giroud with those orbicular eyes of his and he cushioned a first time pass that was finished aplomb with a neat one-timed shot from Giroud.

OCTOBER 2013

Goal No. Six against Napoli at the Emirates

Arsenal doubled their money when Giroud latched unto a loose pass, teed up Ozil and continued his run into the box. The German schemer used his first touch to give himself some space, went to Napoli’s byline and squared the ball for Giroud. They rest they say, was history.

Goal No. Seven against Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates

Following a good Bacary Sagna cross (after a plethora of erratic crosses), Giroud showed his predatory instincts to capitalize on a defensive gaffe between Neven Subotic and Roman Weidenfeller to blast in a free clear-cut chance at goal that leveled the contest before halftime.

Goal No. Eight against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park

Right on the death, Giroud instigated a counter attack with a neat flick to Ramsey that went on a run and waited for the right moment for the Frenchman to arrive at the box. With Giroud in sight, Ramsey gently cushioned the ball above a defender to the path of Giroud that nodded his effort in to put the game beyond doubt.

NOVEMBER 2013

Goals No. Nine and 10 against Southampton at the Emirates

The match opener arrived in a rather hilarious fashion as Clyne supplied a simple back pass to his goalkeeper and with Giroud closing down on Boruc he decided to invoke the spirits of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi to attempt a futile effort of dribbling Giroud. The Frenchman robbed the Pole and slammed the ball into an unguarded net.

Jose Fonte wanted to exchange jerseys with Mertesacker in the box leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Giroud took responsibility and sent the keeper the wrong way to make it two.

DECEMBER 2013

Goal No. 11 against Newcastle at St. James Park

The match clincher arrived when Giroud latched onto Walcott’s perfectly-timed cross to head the ball home.

JANUARY 2014

Goal No. 12 against Aston Villa at Villa Park

While the Gunners were basking in the euphoria of getting the game’s opener, Wilshere robbed Delph off the ball and clipped a diagonal pass to Giroud. The Frenchman shoved the threat Lowton posed and fired a shot past Guzan to make it two goals in less than a minute for the Gunners.

Goal No. 13 against Coventry City at the Emirates

Giroud latched on to Kieran Gibbs cut back to make it three while Cazorla fired in the icing on a well-baked cake late on.

Goal No. 14 against Southampton at the St. Mary’s Stadium

Lacked supply from his teammates in the first half but he helped his team defensively. He also scored a very improvised finish in a difficult situation.

FEBRUARY 2014

Goals No. 15 and 16 against Sunderland at the Emirates

Giroud lingered in the box when he attempted to pass back to his keeper and the Gunners striker clinically slid the ball past the exasperated Vito Mannone in goal.

Santiago Vergini, deputising for the suspended Wes Brown, chose to send a tame back pass to Mannone.His return ball to Mannone, however, was woefully under hit, allowing the predatory Giroud to pounce and roll the ball beyond the goalkeeper.

MARCH 2014

Goals No. 17 and 18 against Everton at the Emirates

Giroud came off the bench to score a lovely brace that saw him fire one-timed shots into the net. His first arrived when he timed his run well to hit Sagna’s drilled cross and his second was served on a platter after Ozil’s pass put him clean on goal.

Goal No. 19 against Swansea at the Emirates

Giroud showed good movement to reach Lukas Podolski’s inch-perfect pass before firing a shot past Michel Vorm in goal.

APRIL 2014

Goal No. 20 against West Ham at the Emirates

The French striker hit the 20-goal mark when he controlled Vermaelen’s pass impeccably before blasting the shot through the goalie’s legs.

I hope you enjoyed the review.

Sayonara.

You can follow Gooner Daily on Twitter  @goonerdaily. I’ll follow back

Feel free to visit Gooner Daily’s  Facebook page and click on the like button.

You can also join Gooner Daily’s Mailing List to get notifications of new posts by email by clicking on the Follow button