Whether your sold on the thought of Theo Walcott as a centre forward, there’s no doubting the 23-year-old’s effectiveness for the Gunners. Statistically speaking he’s something of a marvel.
In 20 appearances this season, he has scored 14 goals and picked up 10 assists. In other words, he seems to affect play, EVERY time he’s on the pitch.
Though he’s sometimes accused of being a player who lets the game pass him by (like against Southampton last Tuesday – though it should be noted that it was his free kick that brought the Gunners back into the game and helped them secure a 1-1 draw), his stats suggest a player who pounces on most available opportunities.
He’s certainly the best finisher at the club (though that opinion may change once I’ve seen more from Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski) and his goal-scoring record is all the more impressive given the fact that his position has chopped and changes throughout the season.
Suffcice to say – he’s a damn important player for Arsenal. The problem is that the Gunners have developed a troubling habit of moving on their best players.
And it has looked for a long time like Theo would be the next Arsenal player to take to the exit door. His Arsenal deal will run down next summer and he’ll be allowed to leave on a Bosman.
According to The Metro, Theo has twice turned down Arsenal’s offering of £75k a week and has shown a desire to be played more in his favoured centre-forward role.
Well he’s certainly got his desire. Against Wigan, Newcastle and the Saints, Theo has been deployed as an out-and-out striker and has looked pretty decent (though there are areas of his game that need improvement).
And now we’re hearing that fresh rounds of talks concluded with Arsenal’s willingness to boost his wages to £90k a week and Arsene’s commitment to deploying him as a striker in the long-term. The Metro claim that Theo is ‘happy’ with the offer and that only the final details need to be ironed out.
I can’t help but feel that this is great news. Whilst fans tend to blow hot and cold when it comes to Theo Walcott, his stats more or less speak for themselves. At 23-years-old, he’s about to enter the best years of his career. Let’s hope that they’re with Arsenal.
What’s your take: are you glad that Theo is going to put pen to paper on a new Arsenal deal?
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Walcott re-signs will be the best deal in 2013 and beyond,it would be tremendously naive to think otherwise. Unless someone could unearth a cheaper,younger,better pace,improving higher strike rate player,there is no better choice. At the end of the day it is the scoreline that counts,and Walcott speaks with his feet,still has time and improvement potential.
THE SLOWNESS OF WENGER WILL MAKE WALCOTT LEAVE. HOW CAN YOU BE READY TO LOOSE SUCH A PLAYER AND YOU TALK OF YOUR HUNGER TO WIN TROPHIES? WHICH TROPHIES WILL YOU WIN IF YOU LET PALYERS LIKE BA AND HOTBLY SLIP AWAY TO CLOSEST RIVALS? THOUGHT 17MILLIONWAS LITTLE FOR A MAN OF CLASS LIKE DAVID SILVA? WHY IS HE HOLDING BACK FOR OTHER CLUBS TO TAKE HIM IN? AND ANDRIANO LOPEZ? WENGER SOULD STOP PLAYING CARDS AND SIGN BOTH DAVID VILLA, M’VILLA OR MBIWA AND ANDIANO THEN GIVE WALCOTT HIS DEMANDS IF HE WANTS TROPHIES. OOTHER WISE THE FA CUP DREAM ENDS TOMMOROW, VILLA WILL MOVE TO TOTTENHAM AND ANDRIANO ANOTHER CLUB. YOU ARE SO FRUSTRATING WENGER! LOOK AT WHAT BA IS DOING AT CHELSEA? THAT WAS THE KIND OF BULLY FINISHER ARSENAL NEED. ONLY GOD CAN SAVE ARSENAL, THAT IS IF HE PLAYS FOOTBALL
This will definitely be a good boost to arsenal attack, considering the level of treat the lad possesed
Podolski is the best finisher at the club, and it’s not even close. Theo does a better job of getting himself into goalscoring positions, and can finish better from odd angles, but Podolski’s shooting is far better.
Theo is Arsenals best player so you can count on him going.
good if he signs, but he needs to do it on time. it’ll be a massive boost to the club
No change at Arsenal again this season again. We have some players with great potential, all that is needed is a few quality additions and this team can go places.