Stateside Gooner

By Chris Toronyi

What a way to end our holiday in Toronto and what a way to end 2013 for the Arsenal! It was a goal fest on both sides through the first 80+ minutes, then the goal posts became as large as Lake Ontario in the final 10 minutes for the Arsenal.

The game gave some amazing finishes of our end - Theo's hat trick was deserved, especially the final goal of the night which showed his focus and want to get it. The first was a classic Theo finish from an angle that required him to slot it far post. Where have we seen that before? And the second ... while it wasn't as beautiful as the others, it was the game winner.

Ox and Poldi delivered goals as well: one from distance and the other glided in to head it in. Both came at critical times, showed we wanted to win the game, and wouldn't waver despite the defensive mishaps. Well done to both as their assists and other efforts on the pitch were just as noteworthy. 

And then there's Giroud. Can we finally put to rest the opinion that he hasn't delivered? It's getting irritating and pedestrian. I hope the good folks that slighted him in his first couple of games of his EPL career show some intelligence and come out of their knee-jerk holes. I don't understand the need to criticize and only use a couple of games to determine if someone can deliver in the EPL.

Now, the game was without some mismarking. Maybe it was a lack of confidence or a lack of focus. Whatever it was, it wasn't fun to see again. It's easy to blame an individual player for a couple of the goals, but you've gotta put pressure on the ball so that it can't be fed through. I see it as a team fail versus a single player. We are a team, right?

Regardless, it was an amazing way to end the year. No doubt one of the most memorable games.

Some people will focus on the latter, the defensive failings, but those are the same people that probably complained at Christmas after receiving numerous gifts. It's not always how many gifts you receive, nor what gifts, it's the thought. Or in this case, the result that matters most.

Happy Holidays. 

The Arsenal America Podcast returns this week with Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph and Peter Wood of @LeGrove. Don't forget to subscribe to the "Arsenal America Podcast" on iTunes and the show can be streamed at ArsenalAmerica.com

Thanks for reading and thanks for listening.

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Arsenal America - Chris Toronyi

'Stateside Gooner' Chris Toronyi is a longtime Arsenal supporter and the host of The Arsenal America podcast, available every week at ArsenalAmerica.com and on iTunes at "Arsenal America Podcast." You can read more of Chris' thoughts on Twitter. 

The views expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect those of Arsenal Football Club or Arsenal Broadband Ltd.

Previous entries:

December 11: Game changers
November 28: No proselytizing
November 20: Three points
November 16: 3.8 miles
November 13: Season of adventure
November 5: Take a breath
October 29: Positive drama
October 19: Club and country
October 11: Social madness
October 9: Shoot first...
October 2: Uncomfortably numb
September 25: Feeling the love
September 21: A road win is a win
September 17: Saturday's synergy
September 9: (No) break time
September 4: The negotiation dance
August 28: Give it time
August 21: Game on!
August 10: Arsenal Ambition
July 26: The right silverware
July 6: Anti-anti-football
June 28: New additions
June 20: Failing chemistry
June 13: Summer school
May 8: Not the time to get ill
May 2: End of season variables
April 24: Making a point
April 18: Different kinds of tired
April 12: Emotionally spent
March 29: No doubt
March 23: An amazing run
March 13: Mad Men, mad season
March 6: Rush of emotion
February 29: Pride and joy
February 14: An evolving Arsenal
February 22: Anger is beautiful
February 14: An evolving Arsenal
February 8: A welcome display
February 1: The value of value
January 31: FA Cup magic
January 24: We have to be supportive
January 19: This is a massive game