Does the Arsenal boss really have faith in Walcott as striker?
Does Wenger really believe Walcott can be a striker? by AH
The last few games have seen Arsene Wenger pick Theo Walcott as the man to lead the front line in Arsenal’s attack. He has made a great effort and performed well in the majority of games he has played this season and it’s his form that has gathered such interest in him from other clubs.
In recent weeks Theo has performed well, scoring a goal against Reading but I don’t think he has the dominant striker threat that top class strikers should have. Now, I’m not taking away the fact he has scored 11 goals in 19 games this season, because it’s a great return considering most of the games he has played in he has been placed on the wing and he hasn’t played the full 90 minutes. However I feel he lacks certain attributes a top quality striker needs.
Walcott is good when it comes to beating defenders onto through balls because of his sheer pace, however I think he lacks the ability to turn and create an opportunity for himself. How many opportunities have we seen Walcott through on goal this season, yet not score. Every striker isn’t going to score all the opportunities they get but the top quality strikers put the majority of their clear chances away, something Walcott fails to do.
I think he has the potential to make it as a striker, but whether he should be considered and relied on as Arsenal’s first choice striker is a different matter at the moment because I think Giroud has a far better impact when leading the front line, while Walcott can pop up with the goals from the wing. Another reason why Walcott has been playing is because Giroud hasn’t been fit to play, but it’s obvious that Wenger hasn’t just been playing Walcott as a striker because of Giroud’s absence because we have seen Walcott in the role when Giroud has been available as well.
So it shows that Wenger is willing to provide Walcott his wish to play as a striker, but does it have anything to do with Walcott’s contract situation. Does Wenger really believe in Walcott and his ability to be a striker or is Wenger partly sacrificing the strength of the team in order to play Walcott as a striker and therefore show an advantage when it comes to sorting out the contract situation?
No.
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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12
Still don’t want to lose him
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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5
Walcott should stop trying to be something he cannot become and Wenger should stop giving to his demands or wishes.
He is a winger, an excellent winger sometimes and that is all.
This is why Wenger needs to recruit another striker before we come short, AGAIN…!! ( and a defensive mid to add power in the middle… Diaby? let’s not fool ourselves ).
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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Can’t see him staying in that position as it seems Wenger is after a Striker.
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Hes A Winger…End Of
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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it doesn’t matter who’s the main striker as long as the team keeps on winning and at the moment with Walcott their on a little 3 game win streak, and i dont think Giroud is yet ready to be a top striker at the premier league, but hes improving and give a lot of effort when he plays…but perhaps Podoslki would be the best option for striker beacause hes abilities and finishing attributes but like i said as long as the team wins games it could be chamak as the st and i wouldnt care lol…
Gooner 4 life
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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I think Theo has the attributes to become a top top front man for us, but as a pair maybe with Giroud or Podolski. But that’s not going to happen especially with our 3 midfield. It has the potential to bring back the glory days of old! Especially if we sign Diame or manage to sort out Diaby and his muscle fibres???
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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I dont know if Wenger has fh in him as a striker…What i do know is tiathat i dont
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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I’d rather see him have a go as a striker than a winger. He simply can’t take on a player one on one, which is surprising because of his pace. I’d be just as happy to see him leave in all honesty, we’re never going to challenge for the league while he is in our starting 11. United and City are trying to sign him as back up, thats what it has come to.
I’d be happy to see Demba Ba be our main man up top. Podi on the left, Chambo on the right, Cazorla and Wilshere in behind him, he could score buckets. Stats came out today, and apparantly his shots on target is at something ridiculous like 34. He’d have a field day at our place.
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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How possible is it that you guys dont understand what is happening here? Yes walcot is being courted by arsene wenger and part of what the club is willing to offer in order to secure him is by playing him as striker. Walcot is about to start perfecting his striking role now. He is by no means the finished article just like Jenkinson, Gibbs, Ox and Ramsey are still progressing. How is it that on one hand, we all agree that arsenal turns talent into superstars and then we argue with walcot being turned into a world class striker? Your arguements dont make sense. Look at what early season games did for jenkinson in sagna’s abscence. Look at what clichy’s sale to man city has done for Gibb’s developement. So why cant theo capitalise on rvp’s exit to become our next talisman? Just look at the reading game. That has been our best game as far as our vintage fluid style of play is concerned and that was only possible with walcot playing upfront. We never achieved that balance with gervinho and giroud. Why shouldnt theo get his chance? We all argue that theo is not world class. Well, how many players in this arsenal team are world class beside sagna and carzola? Non. Wilshere and co are still learning their trade.
Well, if we are okay with gibbs, ox, szcezeney and co in our team, then why not walcot? It is not as if we are benching cavani or falcao just to play walcot. Walcot is our most dangerous striker. Look at his stats. He has the least starts and has scored the most goals. You cannot argue against that. Give the boy a chance. After six years waiting in the ranks, he has earned it.
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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In my mind Theo is no longer an Arsenal player. I’m already looking to a new Arsenal having Isco, Zaha and Strootman
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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No…. that’s why he hasn’t played him there before.
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Walcot or no Walcot, Giroud is absolutely not the striker for Arsenal, at least for now.If Arsenal truly wants to contend for trophy, then the boss needs to sign a true and worthy striker period.
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Wenger doesn’t want him to go so there’s some percentage of trust!but it should be resolved and compromised between both player and manager concerning position wise! Walcott doesn’t want to leave either but he needs to stop beating around the bush and set his priorities straight!
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His first touch on the ball is not that of a leadman, I am sorry Theo, you are not striker, but he will start again tomorrow, Arsene really want him to sign…hum!
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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I’m very confused with all this ranting about Theo Walcott and whether he’s a world class striker or not, or even if Wenger has faith in him?
Theo can’t be a world class striker unless he’s given the opportunity to perform as a world class striker. When Wenger brought him he was seen as potentially one of the best young strikers in the country. Wenger turn him into a wide player in order to sharpen his skills, i.e., his ability to go pass defenders, without just using he’s pace. This I believe has been beneficial to him but the jury in many cases are still out on this. Many suggesting that when Theo has too much time to consider his options, he invariably chooses the wrong one. Some site him as an instinctive player that operates better when he doesn’t have to think. For these reasons I believe that in a central strikers role Theo would excel. Having said that I’m still rather confuse as in the Arsenal setup with the three front players all are strikers and with the fluidity of the Arsenal style of play each should at some point find themselves in a central strikers position and thus should have the ability to play there, Gervinho aside.
Whether Wenger is playing him there simply to appease him into signing a contract…….shame on you guys for thinking that, if it’s one thing we are all agreed upon is that Wenger is a stubborn Bxxtxxx as does nothing unless he thinks will benefit the team
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Walcott can be a very GϑϑD̶̲̥̅ striker, let’s give him a chance. H̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥ Ȋ̝̊̅ƨ̣̣̣̇̇̇ goal oriented. H̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥ always scores against big clubs Α̲̅πϑ H̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥ is never goal shy, let’s give †ђξ boy a chance so H̶̲̥̅̊ε̲̣̣̣̥ can build his confidence. I mean wit giroud we always drew matches Α̲̅πϑ lack shot on goals which walcott provided i̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ our last 3 winning streek. And bcos o̶̲̥̅̊f̶̲̥̅̊ walcott’s threat Α̲̅πϑ presence it gives room for other attackers like carzola Α̲̅πϑ rosicky to take †ђξ defence o̶̲̥̅̊f̶̲̥̅̊ our opponents unaware. So walcott Ȋ̝̊̅ƨ̣̣̣̇̇̇ our best option, like it or leave it.pin:27A3A609
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Assuming Wenger wont change to a 442 and will stay with 433 then I think we should do the following.
Change both Walcott and Podolski’s position to a combination of left wing and striker so they provide some width but also have a lot more time in and around the box.
Let Cazorla have a “free position” so he can move around with as much freedom as he wants, drift wide, drift left, or drive through the middle. Allows him to attack the entire defence and adds variety to our attacks.
This is what I would do but knowing Wenger we will swap Walcott for Gervinho as striker, put Ramsey on the wings, and blame the ref.
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Walcott is obviously trying to emulate Thierry Henry…
The problem is, he has neither the power, the class, the abilities, the flair, the ball touch and the killing instinct of the legend…
At the same age, Henry was already a lethal weapon.
Walcott needs to realise that he is definitely a winger and he can become a very good winger.
Walcott does not have the baggage to become a 30 goals a season “killing” machine, that’s simple as that and he does not have the tools to develop the art.
Walcott should stick to what he knows best and Wenger should stop accommodating him… WE HAVE MORE SERIOUS BUSINESS TO ATTEND.
If it is the main reason for his stubbornness in not extending his contract, then he can leave with our blessing.
I don’t know where he is going to play striker in the league… He might get his wish with the lower teams in the league because Chelsea, Man City, Man United and even Liverpool are not going to give him the spot.
Now, if it is a question of money. Wenger should give him what he wants ( and stop being stingy ) because Walcott is a good player and can still improve.
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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he is history,none of the arseholes stay past this point
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All we need to do is start with buying BA another
two midfielder s one good holding one another SHalf
keep theo he’s able to change a game and forget about
Diaby holes the ball to much and then always loses it +
Always injure ed wake up wenger before its to late
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the role of striker where you have your back to goal alot of the time does not play to Walcotts strengths.His strengths are his pace and running at defenders while facing the goal,therefore the best position for him is on the wing.Wenger for all his faults recognises this,thats why he is reluctant to play Theo upfront.Its pretty clear that Walcott is a lightweight option upfront.
How come Walcott himself can’t realise this?ego?
Take a look at Walcott b4 the Reading match,pulling his socks up to the top like Henry,i think he’s been hypnotized and thinks he’s Thierry.
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No. He is not a natural killer. If he want to go….let him go. If he want to be a striker, pls join teams like QPR or Reading….then he will know his fate!
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eisfield = fabregas
gnarby = nasri
jon toral = arteta
aneke = yaya
ryo = ronaldooo ( i wish … )
kris olsson = rosicky
miquel = pique ( i wish )
meade = clichy
jenkinson = lauren
frimpng = makelele
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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lets not lie to ourselves walcott is better off as a winger
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In the 433 formation we currently play, I think he is better as a winger. But we need dept and options especially playing against teams that hold a high back line, Theo can be used as a cf to run at opposition defence line. Depending on who we play, he can be deployed as a winger or as cf. We really need variety and depth in this squad. We shd also give him the chance to learn his trade. I think AW knows what he is doing on this, let us trust him on this. AFC need real options if we are to get back to the glory days where teams sweat each time they av to play us.
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I think his Rennes problems are mainly due his hope/promise of moving on to a big club over the summer not coming to fruition. We also don’t know what else could be going on behind the scenes there. France….. Don’t get me started in this problems. Look at what Tevez has done after all his issues are finally sorted. I think Wenger can do more to settle M’Vila than Mancini has done to Mario Balotelli, now he’s a real attitude problem.
I’d personally love to have him on as I think he’d respect Wenger immensely and would give us his all. He’s a rock in the midfield and has a great forward pass. I think he’d be the player we always wanted Song to be in his defensive play. Plus if we can have him at a cut rate price all the better. Will his injury record be better than Diaby? Can’t be worse!!!’
Strootman is immense and another great prospect.
There are a few options out there but we need to act before we lose them to the big spenders who ride Arsenals scouting coat tails.
Not the same player/position but I want Belhanda!!!!!!!
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I think that he is doing a very good job as a striker, he is making lots of runs behind the defense as well as playing very far up the pitch. What this does is stretch out the opposing defense making them have to stay with Walcott, due to his pace, and that allows the midfield to have space to dominate. He’s not the finished article yet, but with more time as a striker, Wenger can make him amazing.
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I don’t.
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He hasn’t got the Strength or the maneuverability to compete with the top class ‘Central’ defenders, to say Theo Walcott is our 20 goal a season Goal keepers nightmare Talsiman ? I dont Think So. Maybe in a year or two after extensive gym work. Arsenal have done all they can to appease him. If he wants to leave let him we may aswell profit of him, but if he thinks his got a career as a Center Forward outside of Arsenal well then good luck to him. There is along list of Arsenal Rejects :Hleb, Flamini, Reyes, Cygan, Senderos etc
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i don’t think he is the finished product but still i feel he is the best in the current squad that fits arsenal style of play with lot of movements. giroud is a good striker no doubt but a bit too static and predictable
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442. Then I think he would be prolific playing of a target man has he would be faster to the second ball. Oh, how I harp back to the days of Dennis Bergkamp and Henry. It’s not a coincidence that this was our most successful period.
On his own, he does not have the strength or the technical ability to take on a player.
If AW wants the best out of this team he needs to revert back to a tried and tested system.
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Walcott would make a great striker
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I HOPE ALL OF YOU TAKE BACK WHAT YOU ALL SAID… THE PERFORMANCE THAT WALCOTT SHOWED AGAINST NEWCASTLE WAS SPECTACULAR AND WENGER IS GOING TO MEET HIS DEMANDS COZ OF THAT
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