Arsenal: Olivier Giroud’s moment of magic has to have consequences

Olivier Giroud looked half-awake for the majority of Arsenal’s match against Red Star Belgrade, but the brief moment of magic should have a ripple effect.

Arsenal’s past two matches have been, for the most part, unsatisfying. Against Watford, the attack stagnated all day and the defense, which held tight all day, crumbled in the end.

Against Red Star Belgrade, the attack beat around the bush without amounting to too terribly much and for 84 minutes, you might have been better served taking a nap. Or two.

That’s a lot of time spent wondering just where the hell the creativity on this team has gone. A lot of time spent making horizontal passes and hoping that no one lets their guard down and maybe, just maybe, we can get a set piece and use Per Mertesacker‘s extraordinary height to scrape a goal.

I am a firm, and perhaps foolhardy, believer in turning points. I believe that there are brief moments that can absolutely change the entire flow of a match or a season or even beyond and from that moment forth, everything hinges back to that moment.

Obviously something then has to carry that momentum from that moment forth, but with the right ability, it’s not so hard to do. It’s all about being in the right mindset, and moments can inspire the right mindset.

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Arsenal’s brilliant goal, that should honestly be split three ways between Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud, is such a moment. The kind that can spark something in a team and inspire a bit of action as opposed to counting down the minutes to the final whistle.

You already saw it a bit immediately following the goal. Everyone looked recharged and ready to go. It was a shame that the match had to end.

Going forward though, what does this mean to the team? It was, after all, just a thirty-second or so segment in the Europa League in Serbia.

Well, maybe, just maybe, Arsenal gets a bit more exploratory. Maybe they try a to take a few chances in the attack. Maybe they just go forward with a bit more confidence, or move off the ball with the hopes of contributing to a goal like they saw happen in Serbia.

Next: Arsenal vs Red Star Belgrade Player Ratings

Whatever happens, something has to happen. Don’t make this a one-off deal. I’m not expecting the Gunners to thread together another goal like this at Goodison Park, although that’d be pretty awesome, but we have to see more chances, more opportunities.