Midfielders such as Fabregas, Rosicky, Arteta and Arsharvin that have been bought to fit into this Barca Lite operation are blessed with the required vision and technique for the tactic. However it is Walcott’s lack of a footballing brain that makes him stick out like a sore thumb as he invariably selects the wrong option to pass, dribble, shoot or cross. This is compounded by his errant technique – David Beckham he is not.
At 22 Walcott has had 6 years under the tutelage of Wenger and whether it is to his credit that he is still persisting and attempting to coach Walcott in this more refined style of play, or to his discredit that he does not see the wingers limitations and his incompatibilities with the tactic, is open to debate. Having brought out the best of the likes of Henry, Ljungberg, Pires, Overmars and Van Persie, Wenger is no stranger to quality wing play and opens up the question once again, is Arsene loosing his touch?
I don’t believe that Walcott is a terrible player; he is at the moment a limited player with an X-factor, which due to the tactics his team employs, is being negated. I believe that he would be far better suited to a side that utilise rapid counter attacks and aren’t afraid of playing early balls over the top of a defence. Compare Walcott’s recent development to that of Gareth Bale. Would the Welshman been allowed the tactical freedom to attack, that led to his outstanding hat-trick in the San Siro were he was an Arsenal player? I doubt it.
It may seem impetuous to partially write of a man aged just 22 as not having what’s required to make it at the most elite level and people who disagree with me will point to Henry’s transformation in a world class striker after the moved to the Premiership aged 23. However the football brain, composure and technique that enabled Henry to play with such imagination and precision are all sorely absent in Walcott and more worryingly, he has have shown no real signs of improvement in these areas since his move from Southampton. I feel he could still have a highly successful career as a Premier League forward; however that will not happen unless Wenger starts playing to his actual strengths rather than his desired ones. Failing that a transfer might be Theo’s best chance of furthering himself.
Is Wenger’s reputations as the best man to nurture talent justified? Do you think the Emirates Stadium is the best place for Oxlaide-Chamberline to develop his natural game? Why is Walcott he such a Capello favourite? Give us your thoughts.
Written by Pete Starr.
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your are right walcott should move on for own good m u would suit his game and bring him on.to play the way arsenal does requires a good engine closs control good awareness and passing ability others strugle to have all thats needed aa cham are same not to say they are bad players. the young players coming up seem to have it all.
Walcott’s not going anywhere,he is 22 and it’s getting better every year,the stats back that up.
People who say that theo is not getting on at Arsenal are talking out there rear end.Injury’s have been the only thing that has held this boy back.Let theo be and your see that he will become a great player for the Arsenal.
Arsenal are currently lacking a play maker and Walcott does not get the incisive passes he did when Fabregas was in the side-but he will have to adapt and improve his own delivery of the ball.
There is an element of truth in this-but only an element-Walcott is a young player still finding his level- probably expectations were too high too early. He is only now starting to cope physically with playing twice per week and then he remains very inconsistent.
He has attributes-and when playing on the break he can be dangerous-but he can also be wasteful.Walcott does see plenty of the ball for Arsenal-unfortunately-he does not do enough with it-and that is not because of possession football played by the team.