Giroud Scorpion Stings Palace
Jan 1st, 2017 by 'holic
The pre-match fears about the flu were well founded. Mesut Ozil was ruled out and Francis Coquelin was relegated to the bench. Nacho Monreal came in for Kieran Gibbs as expected while Mohamed Elneny and Lucas also came into the starting line-up.
As early as the sixth minute we should have taken the lead. Xhaka found Monreal who played a ball across the face of the goal that just eluded Olivier Giroud and Lucas. Xhaka was again the provider for Alexis who lined up a right footed blast just wide of the far post.
Alex Iwobi took time to settle into the number ten role but forced Hennessey into a diving save in the sixteenth minute, then a minute later we went ahead with one of the finest goals of all time.
Arsenal broke from defence to attack with the pace and power we know we have. Bellerin found Giroud who would be on the end of the move after Xhaka, Iwobi, and Alexis had combined to set-up Giroud’s barely believable scorpion kick finish. Unlike Mkhitaryan who netted in similar fashion last week the Frenchman was onside.
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Elneny threatened a second but saw his drive pass the wrong side of the post. In a rare break out from their own half Palace had their first effort on target from Cabaye but it was straight at Petr Cech who saved comfortably.
As the half drew to a close Alexis found half a yard of space on the edge of the box but he too drove his effort straight at the goalkeeper, and Hennessey denied him again just seconds later after Iwobi had blocked an attempted clearance.
Palace started the second-half more brightly but Benteke headed wide of the far post from Townsend’s cross. That just made the Arsenal angry. Monreal and Alexis combined to set up Lucas who saw his effort deflected for a corner. In the resulting goalmouth scramble Iwobi and Alexis both had goalbound efforts blocked.
Alexis again put Lucas clear but the Spaniard’s effort with his swinger cleared the bar. The second goal we so richly deserved arrived via a rare Iwobi header after Monreal’s cross was only partially blocked. Palace were staring at a tough final half an hour.
Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace
The award of a disputed corner saw Palace thrice thwarted by Cech, most spectacularly with a full length dive to deny Cabaye. The ‘keeper had to be alert again to deal with a curling Townsend effort.
Xhaka saw two efforts deflected wide of the target as the Gunners once again got on the front foot before the boss made two substitutions. Elneny and Lucas made way for Coquelin and Arron Ramsey. Six minutes later the Ox came on for a tiring Iwobi.
Monreal, excellent in attacking areas on the day, took a yellow card for the team when he tugged down Zaha as Palace attempted to salvage something from the final ten minutes.
Oxlade-Chamberlain put Ramsey through for a shot that went agonisingly wide of the post. The provider was then teed up himself by Alexis but Hennessey dived to his right to save.
It was the last chance to secure the first ‘holic pound of the new year. I should have factored the Tuesday night fixture into the equation. The Gunners clearly applied the infamous handbrake to preserve something for Bournemouth.
The win took us back above Tottenham and Manchester City into third place at the halfway stage of the season. The nine point gap to Chelsea remains so we need to keep this run going to keep some pressure on those above and just behind us.
Roll on Tuesday.
36 Responses to “Giroud Scorpion Stings Palace”
Top 3
Great goal just seen on line
Weeeeee
Top 1
Hopefully same position at end of season
Some good games coming up
Happy new year to all from down under
Now back to bed
Cheers H. Good stuff.
I got to watch this one. We looked good. Certainly as good as we needed to be for 3 points. Bellerin is a really top player. I enjoyed the game. Now to build some momentum…
UTA
I was concerned that Ollie G’s early miss might set us up for ‘one of those days’. Happily his scorpion set things right. Some are calling for Chelsea to be awarded the title now. It’s not over yet and 40 points at the half-way stage is respectable – although we should have at least six more. Enjoyed the report, Holic. Happy New Year and see you for Burnley.
Chelsea play Spuds, Leicester and Liverpool away as 3 of their next 4 games. If they are still 9 ahead after that then fair play to them. We just have to make sure that if they drop points we gain on them. Same as always- just win the next one.
Amazing goal by Giroud today. Jonathan Pearce of the BBC says Arsenal need to go to Stamford Bridge on 4th February on the crest of a six-win run (West Brom, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth Swansea, Burnley and Watford). Eminently achievable, and we are already a third of the way through. Whether the Chavs will drop any points over the same period we can only hope.
Winning the next four matches is not just about keeping up with Chelsea, Pool and City but also about keeping Spuds and Manure at bay. The latter two are on a winning run and Manure appears to be improving with every game. We are in a dog fight for a top four spot. Just can’t afford the blips we had against Everton and City recently.
Great reporters usual Holic, unlucky you missed the pound. We could easily have beaten Palace by four or more goals. Can’t wait for Bournemouth who will be a lot tougher at their place.
Damn Guvnor! You beat me to the headline! But…..it should’ve been:
” Giroud’s ? stings the ? ? ? ”
Another “Best Goal of All time” notched onto the Gunner’s bedpost on NY’s Day!
UTA! AFCOF!
Another top- quality express report from the Holic Vaults!
A very good description of a game that was played in torrential rain( I’ve arrived in much drier than I expected to be ) and yielded us three very well- deserved points although we left them off lightly.
The Giroud goal was the highlight. I thought most players on our side did well and I was particularly impressed with Xhaka, Elneny and Iwobi, who after a slow start ran his legs off. Nacho was excellent going forward as was Hector who is a real class act .
We spent the last twenty minutes showboating to a certain extent but our subs were all effective and on another day we could have had five.
I was relieved to see them take off Benteke as I always felt we were vulnerable to the high ball but we have won two home games without conceding and now need a very solid run to Chelsea and beyond.
But we’re unbeaten this year?
Happy new year all.
Nobody has mentioned Lucas Perez .I thought he had an excellent game,winning the ball that started of the he move that culminated in Girouds maybe prematurely acclaimed goal of the season and also thanks to Bellerins excellent full back play giving him space to make some intelligently well timed runs.
Finally thanks to H`olic for taking the time and effort to continue writing his superb blog.
It would have taken something pretty special to lift me off my hung over backside punching the air today…Giroud’s goal did the trick.
Most relaxed I have been watching the Arsenal for weeks…
That’s 8 goals in his last 6 starts for OG. Let’s hope he continues to lead the line rather than the false 9 Sanchez system which was fine for a while, but got found out.
Can’t wait to see Theo back on his wing. Lucas looks busy enough, but doesn’t carry the same kind of scoring threat.
Alexis looked tired and more than a bit lacklustre without his German playmate. Iwobi did well enough, but I would have preferred to see Rambo tried in the 10 spot.
But a win is a win and Chelski are not yet completely out of sight. Bloody spuds are playing well though, and those hoping for spud wins against Saints and Hornets in prep for beating the Chavs should beware what they wish for. Me, I’d rather see them lose every effin’ game, preferably with gross humiliation.
Nice touch of AW’s to take El Niño off early for a round of appreciation before he leaves for ACN, when he might have kept him on because this was his last game for a while.
I would have taken Alexis off meself.
I’m sorry to disagree with you Chris, but I do. Strongly.
It would be a Bad Thing if “bloody spuds” “lost every effin’ game”, even without gross humiliation. If that happened, even their supporters would work out that they had no chance of ever getting anywhere. As it is, every season, they are able to convince themselves that this will be “their season” that there has been, or there is about to be “a power shift in North London” (not your quotes, this time) only for it to end with another ignominious collapse – remember Lasagne-gate? I am regularly amazed by how little attention the mahoosive scale of Tottenham’s, admittedly traditional, collapse at the end of last season has received – 1 point needed from two matches to achieve what they’ve been dreaming of for 20 years and finally to finish a season above the Arse, and what do they do? Two defeats, one to an already relegated Newcastle United managed by a Spanish waiter.
So, sorry again, I hope the Totts win against Southampton, Watford, and particularly against Chel$ki. It prolongs their fans’ agony.
COYG
Gris,
Perez is going to surprise you. He looks a very intelligent player to me. He made some great runs which it was easier to appreciate live and he worked back well as per the interception for the first goal, I also thought Iwobi was excellent today and did a splendid job in a central role. The team shape was good today and it was a very decent performance. I have a longtime close friend ( who hates Allardyce!) and he said that he had not seen Palace outclassed to that extent before today. I also thought that Sanchez did incredibly well without anything coming off but Ox looked very good in his time on the pitch as did Ramsey.
In fact nobody played badly it was an encouraging performance.
I also agree with Pangloss about the Totts. We need them to at least hold the Chavs on Wednesday.
I’ll be delighted if Lucas surprises me, TTG, and Iwobes looked a lot better playing infield rather than on the wing. But I’m still to be convinced we can’t do better than either, or indeed already have better than either when Mesut, Theo and Santi, for example, are fit to play.
Much as I enjoyed Pangloss’s picaresque Totts torturing plan I cannot support the idea of wanting them to win, ever. And especially not when they actually have a competitive side, as they currently appear to have. Did we learn nothing from last season? Yes they obliged us at the last hurdle, but……..
As I sit in row 3, I endured a very wet afternoon and am now drying out the waterproofs.
The HFB’s “Wow” goal was quite something but we had a hat full of chances which sadly went begging. Thought Hector had his best game of the season and have just discovered his new poster in today’s programme, fabulous!
Granit’s passing was spot on, Cech made 3 great saves, the Ox looked very lively for his 15min cameo and Rambo looked full off running and I expect him to start at Bournemouth. We sat back towards the end so I hope there will be something in the tank tomorrow. With sickness in the camp and with Gibbs and Feo doubtful, Arsene might not have as many options to change the starting 11 as he would like. We will have to wait and see.
COYRs
After watching our display against WBA and Palace, I just can’t believe we had such a poor game against City where we couldn’t string a few passes together and continuously gave the ball away.
When Ozil didn’t play the last time we looked very disjointed and poor and it speaks volumes of our bench strength that we played so well yesterday even though our German maestro was missing.
We could start Mesut, Ramsey, Coq and Ox against Bournemouth and bench Iwobi and Perez. Good bench strength.
Chris, check this on Emil Forsberg
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-eyeing-20million-rb-leipzig-9545816
They’ve had their eye on him for a while, Tapera. I guess it depends whether Özil and/or Sanchez stay or chase bigger money, and if one or both goes whether AW moves fast enough. I can’t see the negotiations with either of them being done before the summer window, so Pool are probably in the box seat.
Then again, if we can get Reus it won’t really matter. Any two of Reus, Forsberg and Griezmann would be a dream, and any one of them still a coup. But none of them is probably still favourite. 🙁
Cheers, Holic !
Excellent report which unsurprisingly matches exactly what I saw in the monsoon drenched stadium. The Xhaka-Elneny axis looked very good – full of potential, pace on the break and power.
Giroud’s goal was worthy of mention not only for the spectacular finish but also for the effort he made, running flat out, to get into the box as the ball was moved swiftly forwards. No sign of any sulking from a player who has found himself reduced to a super-sub role for much of this season.
Xhaka is finding his feet now and his passing range is superb. He hits his passes like drives, which takes recovery time away from the opposition defence too.
It should have been 5-0 yesterday but at least we were making good chances even if a few were spurned.
Finally Holic, as I failed to make the preview drinks, many thanks for yet another year of top blogging.
2016 can do one with my fondest wishes !
2017 could be much better. It started yesterday with a win and a clean sheet – and even my train was on time ! ? ??
Trev pretty much says what I was going to say especially the bits about missing the Pre match drinks, the emergence of Xhaka as our new midfield maestro and the thanks to the Guvna for another year of brilliant and conscientious service to this fine community.
The crate of Taitinger 2008 vintage bubbly that I hid under the stairs on Saturday night is on the bar to toast the New Year, the Guvna and the Holicsphere.
Slàinte mhath.
Health and happiness to all.
Thank you gentlemen, and gentle men. 🙂
What’s this mention of great goal from Giroud am hearing?
That isn’t how to be sincere when such effort yields that kind of goal.
Boy that was sublime. Am still trying to find the right word/words to describe it.
Thanks for the report by the way, I mean the Guv’nor.
Lucas deserve some credit for his showing today. Tirelessly doing the channels.
What a way to start the year. Please let’s do it again & again.
A cold, thankfully dry, at least in row 9 (the wind was blowing towards the Clock End) and ultimately relaxed NYD on the North Bank. The team started better and, as a result, the crowd was in far better voice than on Boxing day. A visitor was behind me, a 6ft 4″ Floridian with a stentorian voice and a fine Giroud-esque beard. He was a fine chap, and very welcome, but wouldn’t have been if he had been standing in front of me!
The Guvna describes the game very well. Although admiring it as a great goal, and enjoying it thoroughly at the time, I don’t see the HFB’s effort as one of our greatest ever. However, I was the man who didn’t even think Jack’s goal against Norwich was the best in that game (that was Ramsey’s when he left four defenders on their arse in the area before slamming the ball in). I think our goal of the season to date was Ozil’s in the CL.
My moments of the match
Gabriel consistently beating Benteke to the ball in the air, despite giving away several inches in height
Iwobi fairly shouldering Zaha off the ball much to the protest of Zaha and fat Sam
Fat Sam’s hat
Ox’s cameo (and Rambo’s, though his shooting needs to get back on target)
Cech’s sixty seconds of class when we were 2-0 up with three great saves in that period
I thought Lucas worked his socks off, the full backs were quality (Bellerin just bottled Zaha up first half and boy, he didn’t like it. Needs to grow up that lad), Xhaka pinged it around like Zavi.
Mind you, Palace were pony and, despite having much better players, not a patch on WBA. Is that why Sanchez was so grumpy at the end? He certainly isn’t slow to tell his fellow players their horoscopes (see the body language after Ox’s pretty good shot was saved at the end). I hope this is just a winning attitude and not increasing disillusionment. He certainly was off down the tunnel without a wave to the crowd at the end.
Still, job done. On to Bournemouth. I couldn’t get a ticket (sold out at 60 credits when the max possible was 63!) so will watch on the box. Off to Preston on Saturday, a little bit of footballing history at Deepdale with 5700 other Gooners. Can’t wait!
‘Twas not a scorpion kick as that is performed by the sole of the foot, ’twas not even Ye Olde Backheele, ’twas actually a side foot I think.
With the outside of the foot.
Had it been the heel, it would have flown over the bar. Not sure if the outside of the foot makes it more skilled or luckier, and don’t really care 🙂
http://ak.c.ooyala.com/cwaHJvODE6iVQFCp7bR5JrmMHAJYSsrs/promo307562322
Xhaka man of the match. His best game and instrumental in most of our play. Giroud scored one of the wonder goals you would want to keep on seeing. Iwobi still a work in progress but the signs are promising. Hector excellent but can work on his crossing. Alexis needs to relax for every time he sits on his haunches or holds his leg, a collective gasp can be world across the gooner world.
Bournemouth minus jack will still be a tough place to and with the inclement weather, the onus will be on our defense and midfield to hold fort. The chances will be few and far between and a 1-0 would be taken eyes closed.
Chelsea need to lose and if it does mean rooting for the spuds that game, i will. Same way would love to see the hammers put one over the mancs to make it a perfect week, of course with we winning tomorrow.
Happy New year to all here and may the holics continue to be in great health and spirits.
Forty six years ago today we spent our first six figure transfer fee on……Peter Marinello. Sadly for him we had the best winger in the league already but he was a skilful lad whose time with us just didn’t work out. I think he was bought as a London version of George Best.
Sorry it’s 2017. It was forty seven years!
TTG, I remember Marinello from his breakthrough season and a half at Hibs before his move south. The lad had a bit of talent but no work ethic, was overhyped as the ‘Scottish Best’ and our scouts succumbed to the hype. He lost himself in the fleshpots of London and failed to realise even the moderate talent he had. Not a patch talentwise on the next big punt we made on a wee Scottish Forward, Champagne Charlie. ?
So, Liverpool drop two points against Sunderland ……
ManU paying off refs again…
Definitely not a red…!
Hope hammers can pull it off and win this.
“The fleshpots of London”, Bath. Do you mean the two butchers shops on Holloway Road?
Mike Dean is a shit ref.
Sucking up to the ref >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>