The First Post

No, this is not my baby picture. It is, however, exactly how I feel finally writing my first blog post.

As one of my closest friends once told me, “find what makes you wake up in the morning and pursue it.” Seeing that I have consistently woken up at 4:45am for every weekend Arsenal game, I felt as though I might as well write about it.

Arsenal is my passion and this year could arguably be our most promising opportunity to win a trophy in 4 years. I am well aware that I have not been a Gooner for “long enough” to warrant suffering for 9 trophy-less years, however, I can promise you that once we do win, it will be the best sports moment of my life. To further my heartbreak credentials, the first Arsenal game I convinced my father to watch with me was the Carling Cup Final v Birmingham City. So I think it’s safe to say, I am due for a celebration if we are able to bring home a cup.

At this moment, Arsenal is at an extremely pivotal point in their season. Yesterday we beat the Spuds, courtesy of Rosicky’s Golazo, and with Chel$ea dropping points at Villa, the title race is far from over.  The matchup with the Blues this Saturday is looming large as well as the face off with City at the Emirates. Due to our valiant but ultimately unsuccessful exit from the Champions League, our focus now solely turns to the FA Cup and the League.

However, what I would like to focus on today is the much discussed, abused, defended, adultery-committing, Olivier Giroud. It is no secret that our current number 12 falls well short in the long line of historic Arsenal strikers.  In a sea of distasteful remarks we’ve heard from the masses that he lacks pace, can hardly shoot, and can’t score in big games.

If, however, a Chel$ea fan were to join in on the hate, I’d only need to show them this.

Giroud is not the type of line-leading striker Ozil, Cazorla, and most importantly Wenger deserve. For one to think Ozil should do better with what he has in front of him is ridiculous. How about you try going from a Lamborghini to a Minivan. I am really not here to pile on the hate, but rather give Giroud the credit he deserves. His link up play is incredible as seen here, here, and here, and his one touch finishing and work rate is unbelievably understated. Furthermore, I do believe Wenger should, and will, go for a big name forward in the mold of Balotelli, Draxler, Morata, etc. Regardless, those players will not help us win the league or the FA Cup this year and if you believe the rumors of Wenger waiting to sign his extension till after the season, bringing home a trophy has suddenly become a necessity.

What I am really trying to get at is this: This year, Arsenal will win its first trophy since 2005 and we will have Olivier Giroud to thank for it.

The FA Cup is our best chance for a trophy and Giroud will undoubtedly start in the Semi’s. We have seen throughout his Arsenal career that he scores consistently against lower opposition (If you haven’t seen who’s left in the FA Cup, it’s safe to say it’s lower opposition). When it comes to the League, we have a lot of work to do but the fight starts this Saturday. If Giroud can get on the scoresheet against Chel$ea, his confidence will be through the roof. He has also shown us that he is a very patchy goal scorer but when he’s on, he is dangerous. Couple that with a returning Aaron Ramsey and Ozil, and it’s a recipe for an open top bus celebration.

At the end of the day the lad loves Arsenal and gives 110% in every match he plays. Countless times we have seen the FA Cup won or lost purely on passion. You need to look no further than our next opponents Wigan, who are in their second straight Semifinal while dabbling in the Championship. There will be no player on the pitch looking to make a mark more than Giroud on April 12th at Wembley.

I’ll admit that it’s easy to hate on Giroud. But in spite of that, he may be the name we are singing when we finally lift our long awaited trophy.