The latter stages of 2013 were enjoyable at Arsenal. Mesut Ozil had just joined for a club-record fee, Aaron Ramsey was in the form of his life and the Gunners were flying at the top of the league.
When an impressive Everton side under Roberto Martinez boasting the likes of Romelu Lukaku and Ross Barkley came to the Emirates, Arsenal had a chance to go seven points clear at the top and really lay down a marker in the title race.
What followed next was 90 minutes of dramatic chaos. Chances fell to both teams, but when Ozil eventually opened the scoring in the 80th minute his side looked set to make it five straight wins.
However, a teenage Gerard Deulofeu’s net-ripping equaliser stunned the hosts, and they looked for a moment of inspiration to secure all three points.
They came agonizingly close.
Olivier Giroud was the marmite striker in the team and nearly delivered what would have been one of the great Arsenal goals.
As the clock ticked beyond the 93rd minute, with the game set to end within seconds, the tall Frenchman plucked the ball out of the sky, took a touch and smashed it with the force of a wrecking ball destroying a building from about 30 yards out.
The ball flew through the air and the Emirates crowd rose to its feet in anticipation of serious limbs. Tim Howard was beaten, and the ball was struck with such venom that it curled beautifully, destined to find the top corner to continue Arsenal’s fairytale few months.
As is often the case with Arsenal though, greatness is closely followed by disappointment, and no one could quite believe their eyes as the stunning late effort rattled the crossbar.
Like most of the crowd, Giroud had his hands on his head as the magnitude of what had just happened dawned on him. He had produced a near-perfect strike, but, by the barest of margins, it wasn’t enough.
Arsene Wenger however, remained more composed than the striker and the frustrated crowd when talking about the near-miss after.
When asked if he thought…
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