This saga consists of two campaigns really. One being Arsene Wenger’s to secure the services of his player and the other Theo Walcott’s to play as a central striker. Keeping your best players is as, if not more important than bringing in new faces. But granting your star performers their wishes is up for debate. In the case of the 23 year old he has backed up his words with good performances, including a hatrick against Newcastle United on Boxing Day.
The former Southampton youngster is calm in front of goal and a clinical finisher who has only really shown this quality in bursts, having made most of his Gunners and international appearances as a winger. Walcott made his name at Saints as a sixteen year old that had natural goal scoring ability. I’m sure back then many thought he had been signed to play up front, especially after taking Thierry Henry’s famed number fourteen shirt.
It has been shown already this season that against opponents who play a high line, like Reading who were terrorised by Walcott’s blistering pace in his side’s 7-5 victory in the Capital One Cup. However, in games where team’s have sat deep with a lot of players behind the ball the pint sized England international has struggled to compete physically.
Wenger’s preferred formations are 4-4-3 and 4-5-1. Both of these set-up’s are spear headed by one striker. In games where teams put ten men behind the ball a partnership could see the Frenchman’s side have a bit more luck in front of goal.
Robin Van Persie is an exception to the rule having both pace and power. Olivier Giroud could be incredibly effective up top with Walcott in an old fashioned big man, little man combination that brings all of the Dutchman’s qualities to the party. If the former Montpellier man can win his flick on’s against defensively minded opponents his pacey counterpart could become one of the deadliest strikers in the league. Especially when taking into consideration that he’s already netted fourteen times without this plan being executed.
Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry played as a partnership for six seasons under the current Arsenal boss, scoring over 200 goals between them between 2000 and 2006. This ended with Henry moving to Barcelona and the Dutchman’s retirement. A return to the past could see the North London club have a brighter future. Goal scoring stats for both Walcott and two of Arsenal’s all time greats, you’d think would be enough to persuade the 63 year old to revert to a system that brought him so much success.
Giroud and Walcott bear little similarity to these two in regards of the quality they both possess but their potential to complement each other’s game is what matters. A couple of decent wide players would be useful if Wenger did decide to implement this plan. Two individuals with the 23 year olds pace and a deadly delivery could see the Gunners mount a challenge for a top two finish.
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“including a hatrick against Newcastle United on Boxing Day.”
The game was on the 29th, but other than that great article.
Now I know why we keep conceding so many goals. It’s that dreaded 443 set up, no goal keeper you see.
Think you meant 433 by any chance?
I Agree with this 100% !! I never thought making a side around midfielder as a good idea.Like we did around Fab’s it never worked.. If you got the money to buy the best proven stars in the world year in year out it would work fact !! Look at Barcelona the only reason they play total football is coz they buy proven best players in the positions needed. We can’t do that Fact !! and it our failing ok against weaker teams and sometimes against big teams it works but not enough to make and impact on the league.. 4-4-2 worked for Bergkamp with Wrighty and Bergkamp with Henry our most successful times with great football. Since we changed to 5 in the middle we are weaker as a team fact !!we need a target someone to play off him and that is Walcott and Giourd Fact !! Midfield would have to change as who in the middle Holding arteta not good enough as a holding player Wilshere wasted Santi would get the nod over Wilshere for play maker and who with who in the middle to hard when your team is mainly attacking midfielders !! we need a couple of holding midfielders that is our weakness fact !! so it hard i like 4-4-2 with man marking close !! but it doesnt make for an easy on the eye game !! but we would get results.. like to see in one game if it works with the players we have or not !! you could actually play 4-4-1-1 and use the the 1 infront of the midfield drop in when we have not got the ball to makee 5 in middle and when in possession revert to 4-4-1-1 it gives you two targets to aim for !! and in return gives you better CHANCE OF FINDING ONE striker in the OPEN!! it goos for breaking fast and when soaking up pressure as we have seen with the invincibles04 wenger convert back we trusted you with it more than we do this crazy formation that we have tried for 7 yrs !! have a think!!