Pure Exhaustion

     Pure exhaustion, that’s how I would describe Giroud’s performance last night.  The poor guy looked absolutely spent by the end of the game, mentally and physically.  Can you really blame the poor guy?  Giroud pretty much plays every single game.  I remember sometime in January, the manager mentioning the fact that not only does the fixture pile up cause tremendous strain physically, but the mental toll is much more strenuous on the squad.  Giroud’s mental exhaustion was on full display last night.  After every missed shot, you could see the mental fatigue written all over his facial expressions. The dramatic histrionics, the cries to heaven after every missed shot really showed the mental anguish, and pressure Giroud is under.  As Arsenal supporters it would be nice just to see Giroud get on with it after missed shots.  In comparison if you look at RVP, he missed a couple a great chances, his response was to blow a snot rocket out his nose and be ready for the next opportunity.  

     

     Can Arsenal supporters really blame Giroud for succumbing to this tremendous weight of mental pressure?  Since the last campaign ended, all Giroud has heard is, “Arsenal need to buy a striker”, and this past January, those same cries became louder and more desperate.  The cries came from Arsenal supporters, pundits, grandmothers, even people who don’t support Arsenal were screaming for a striker.  Unless Giroud lives in a cave without the internet, how could he not mentally be worn out by it all.  Giroud might also need to play with ear plugs, because after every missed touch, pass, or shot I’m sure he heard the all moans and groans on display at the Emirates.  If Giroud didn't have bad luck, then he wouldn't have any luck, not only does he have to play every three days, score goals, hold play up, be physical, defend corners but he has to do this with the whole football universe emphatically suggesting he’s not the striker who will win Arsenal the title.  Whelp there’s only one person Giroud can thank for taking the brunt of Arsenal supporters frustration, yep you guessed it Mr. Arsene Wenger.

     First of all let me preface my comments with a disclaimer, I love Arsene Wenger, and I don’t want him fired.  Its shame I have to do that, but us Arsenal supporter are a very sensitive bunch when it comes to the old man.  With all that said, I can’t trust Arsene anymore to do the right things to win titles.  If as a manager you know you do not trust your back up players to play at all, barring any injuries, then a VERY thin squad becomes cadaverous.  Is Bendtner, Sonogo, or Podolski ever going to play if Giroud is healthy?  If the answer is no, then a team fighting in three competitions with only one legitimate striker, has no chance of winning anything.  As a player it’s nice to know that a manager has faith in you, but also as a player it’s nice to know the weight of the world is not on your shoulders, and that you do have help.  At this point in the season, none of Arsenal’s strikers can relate to either scenario.

     I was one of the supporters begging for the manager to bring in a player, but not a striker, I wanted Wenger to buy a central defender for OBVIOUS reasons.  I figured Arsenal could continue spreading the goals around offensively, and the team just needed defensive cover; but after watching last night’s game, it’s clear a striker who Wenger would trust to play in any situation is what the team needs. Signing a striker who could legitimately compete with Giroud would have done wonders for this team, the same way signing Ozil was a big lift for moral in the early part of the season. 

     Does the manager honestly think that the squad as it is right now will not have any more injuries, or suspensions?  I know I know would've could’ve should’ve, it’s over now, get on with it, but hindsight is not 20/20 in this case because every game will be a glaring reminder of what needed to be done in January. For the ticket holders that’s got to be extremely frustrating and for players like Giroud, Koscielny, Mertesacker, and Ozil the mental and physical pressure unbearable.

     

     It’s a shame because this group of players deserves better, they've worked so hard and given everything, but their exhausted mentally and physically.  It’s been a long hard season and its only February, and the players, supporters, and competition are aware that no help is coming.  Right now, Arsenal is a wounded animal, and the footballing universe are vultures circling, waiting to pounce, and unleash every tired played out Arsenal cliche possible.  As supporters all we can do is support the team and hope for the best, and lots of luck.  Arsenal supporters can pretend all we want, but we know how this movie ends, we've all seen it before, and so has Arsene Wenger.  The one man who could’ve done something to prevent the inevitable, but he chose to do nothing, the same thing he always does. What does doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results mean? Insanity.  COYG! Give them hell.

Peace Out,

Blanco