As a Southampton fan, it’s been quite a pleasing season as far as the Championship goes, but even the Premier League has managed to suitably satisfy my footballing palate: Nathan Dyer has been terrifying opposition defences with his speed and agile dribbling style at Swansea, Andrew Surman is finally getting a decent run of games in the Norwich line-up popping up with the odd goal and assist, Leon Best is proving a good foil for a more than capable Demba Ba and then there are the players involved in a battle for the Champions League spots, and all have come through the ranks at Southampton: Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and our latest export, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
However, one thing I’ve had to grow to live with, is the constant, and seemingly in unison, sigh of “oh dear” that follows Theo Walcott’s performances around like his shadow: and it comes from opposition and Arsenal fans alike. The winger, who had been described as “having been hyped” more than the kid-prodigy that was Freddy Adu, burst on to the scene at Southampton aged 16, putting in performances worthy of the initial £12m fee that was needed to prize him away from The Saints.
Yet, since his premature World Cup 2006 inclusion and his following 200 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 35 along the way and a hat-trick for England, it seems that Arsenal fans still aren’t collectively convinced by Theo Walcott’s credentials as a top class player and with his contract coming to an end and apparent stalling over wage demands for a new contract, some seem happy for Walcott to either, take what Arsenal offer, or be on his way.
His performance Monday evening against Fulham at Craven Cottage, has seemingly failed to do him any favours too: the football expert that is Piers Morgan, (yes Piers Morgan, who would have thought that?) tweeted, “Oh Walcott, learn to bloody cross a ball. For Christ’s sake,” before following that most critical of analysis’s up with, “Oh THEO. Get a grip.” It became apparent that thw talent scout, normally sat behind a desk with an “X”, wasn’t alone as Arsenal fans and pundits across the globe simultaneously pressed their red buzzer: “Arguably Theo Walcott’s most ineffectual game. And he has a long list of ineffectual games,” from thisisfutbol editor Harry Cloke; “”Walcott’s lack of composure is alarming. Both crossing and shooting. Surely he’s better than this.” Not sure that he is,” from the Daily Mail’s Neil Ashton and “Theo Walcott pays tribute to rap greats De La Soul with that shot: Three feet high and rising” comically, from The Mirror.
Whilst contract negotiations remain ongoing, with one fan sarcastically summing up what he thinks of Walcott’s demands, “Walcott makes his biggest contribution of the day by being subbed off. Definitely a performance worth £85k today, Theo,” the continual disappointment displayed by fans at performances, may well fail to aid the situation considering that, according to crunchsports.com/, Liverpool, Chelsea and Barcelona have been alerted to Walcott’s expiring contract and the difficulties surrounding agreement on a new contract at The Emirates.
Monday’s performance has clearly not helped Theo Walcott’s case in justifying his wage demands, according to most of the viewing public, and I have been left in the minority still defending Theo Walcott. In the first half at The Cottage, Walcott put three delightful balls into the Fulham penalty box and it was only Gervinho’s poor shot, Ramsey’s saved shot and a trailing Fulham body part, that prevented the England winger from having a few assists to his name.
Had one of Walcott’s first half crosses been converted, his anonymity in the second half may have been forgiven: as it was, Arsenal had a man dismissed and Fulham made them pay for failing to capitalise on the first half domination Arsenal enjoyed in terms of shots. Alan Hansen described Wenger’s decision to take Walcott off as one that allowed “Arsenal [to] get pegged back further and further,” by Fulham, with an absence of his, “pace in abundance,” that added “another dimension,” to Arsenal’s performance.
im a dedicated arsenal fan and to be honest, i have had enough with theo, he cant cross, has no skill and seem to have lost his pace. in front of goal he is totally clueless has no shot on him, weak in the air and soft in the challenge…..over hyped and over paid. There is talk he wants £85.000 per week and a new contract? when he comes knocking on the door to mr wenger..Arsne should stick him on the transfer list and sell him to man city for £25 million…HAPPY DAYS !!!!
The simple fact is that Theo is a very good players,but not a top one.
He is too inconsistent.
His best is brilliant,his worst is woeful.
The problem is we see more of the woeful than the brilliant.
Good defenders with brains and reasonable pace have him worked out.
I believe everything I have just said is accurate but hey,each to their own.
Agreed.
Spot on mate.
I tend to agree with this article. Yes, he isn’t always great and on Monday he was poor in the second half – but so were Arsenal collectively, and as an attacker he is dependent on the good service from the rest of the team. A key thing about him is is stats: his goals to game and assists to game ratios are still very good. Last season, for instance, they rivalled and even bettered Gareth Bale’s, but you’d never have known that from the pundits’ views on the respective merits of these two players. RvP’s own goal-scoring success has depended in no small part on the work of Walcott. That said, I do think Walcott’s confidence is low at the moment and it really showed in that horrible miss against QPR. He needs to stop talking to the media, get his head down and remain calm: it will come back.
I agree with ur assessment 100%, he gets too much stick for his efforts. unjustified most of d time. He has looked subdued though with the the past two weeks but that doesn’t call for his crucifition. RVP and Georviho has looked off pace and ineffective too and no-one seems to be talking about that. The major problem from the team recently has been lack of quality support from the full backs and it seems to have affected the attach overall. You can’t play alone effectively on the wing and thats why I think things have not been too bright.Lets see what happens when the full backs are sorted out
The problm is he is English and older than he was.
In the UK it seems to be impossible to be labeled talented unless you are under 20.
I’m not an Arsenal or Southampton fan I just love football.
The only problem I see with Theo is when he’s in front of goal, he learnt a lot from playing with Thierry but seems to have lost confidence in that area of his game. It may be he needs to move on or just persist until he gets that confidence back which could be soo with the return of Thierry. I hope his forn returns soon as he is a joy to watch when he’s on form, World class in my opinion.
Greedy, like most money money money
He left Southampton FC too early. He needed another full season to learn his craft (arguably as Bale did). I expect Alex O-C to go exactly the same way. That said, both were very good business for the Saints.
Theo is a good player, Arsene please assist on his crossing ability and his composure in front of goal – this is based on his 5 years at the club, not just one season. He just needs a little bot of consistency in his game. He can go from superb to shocking in minutes,
Theo is not the first winger to come under fire for his crossing ability, I recall a certain Aaron Lennon receiving the same stick. But AL clearly worked on it as he can cross, run to the by line and drive the ball across the 6 yard box, or cut in and shoot.