Walcott’s chances for Arsenal are surely over….
The demand for Theo Walcott to be replaced in the Arsenal starting line-up has intensified since the beginning of this season, with the winger – who wants to be a striker – showing that he could simply not be up to the task of creating and scoring the goals his club so very much need.
In the weekend’s match against Sunderland, his only weapon was pace but even this – though blistering – caused little damage and his play was undoubtedly predictable. He has asked to be played as a centre-forward but simply having Henry’s number shirt number will not be enough to prove he has what it takes to become a goalscorer. He isn’t good enough to even knock the ball into the box, his indecisiveness constantly letting him down when it matters most. In fact, even the divisive Carl Jenkinson provided better deliveries than Walcott from right-back.
Just to seal his labelling as a possibly superfluous player, his effort at a free-kick in the Black Cats game was very poor indeed, the ball flying considerably high over the bar. His desire to take the set-piece in the first place indicates his willingness to prove himself as an attacking force but he may have left it too late.
Nobody can question the fact that the speedster has provided both his club and his country with moments of magic – such as his incredible length-of-the-pitch run against Liverpool and his hattrick against Croatia – and he does still offer something quite unique in terms of such phenomenal speed.
However, is that skill alone enough to warrant him a place in the team? With the emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tomas Rosicky’s ever-improving performances, should Wenger accept that Walcott simply isn’t good enough for Arsenal?
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i dont no i really like walcott as a player but he seems to only make an impact when he comes on as a sub but i still think he has great talent and can still improve alot as a player would hate to see him leave he just needs to up his game
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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Walcott is a top player. Yes, have the likes of oxlade chamberlain, miyiachi and rosicky who would give it all for the club, what we need is some competition for the places, make them really fight for their positions, if one of doesn’t have a good game, replace him at half time..
We still need someone to scare the opposition ie a fabregas nasri henry bergkamp etc we just need to see a player emerge from the ranks now or spend in the january transfer – the always talked about new defender, star midfielder and striker… We just didn’t show that constant threat on sunday in which we need to challenge for top titles
AFC
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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Walcott is SIMPLY tallent! Our manager does not know how to use him well…Players know themselves and the positions they are MOST comfortable playing at…He SHOULD be given a CONSISTENT chance…perhaps starting with the Carling Cup game
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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hence why we need hazard, PLZ ship chamakh 2 lillie/PSG n get hazard in at LW n gervinho at RW, while walcott takes chamakh’s spot as impact sub, then we need a quality DM/CM as a wilshere replacement cuz he will play as CAM, i suggest lassana diarra-good mentor 4 our star youngsters coquelin n frimpong + he will be cheap AND he can tell the players how sh*t life after arsenal is! then buy verthongen AND cahill n we can kick sum premier league arse
1st team: szczensy
sagna mert verma verthongen
song diarra
gervinho Wilshere Hazard
RVP
with impact subs & quality bench in: walcott, rosisky, arshavin, koscielny, santos, diaby, arteta, benayoun, ramsey, ox, miyachi, cahill exc.
This team will eat United, City, chelsea, Spuds n liverpool for breakfast n will only cost(cahill-10m, verthongen-15m, diarra-10-15m n hazard 35m MINUS squillaci-3m, denilson-5m, chamakh-10m, djorou-7m )MAXIMUM 45m n minnimum 20m
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I think nothing has changed with walcott ,the only thing tht changed is the midfield he used to play with , fabregas en nasri understood he needs to be fired ,he shouldnt drop to the midfield get the ball and make combinations with the other midfielders cuase he simply misses technique for that kind of play,
however he should make the run and then get the over thats what his ,fabregas understood that but ramsey and arteta try to combine with him complete fail,they should send him away in the space and let him make the run!walcott didnt change but the players around him did
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
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however he should make the run and then get the ball over 30 yards thats his quality,to find that gap behind the fullback ,fabregas understood that but ramsey and arteta try to combine with him complete fail,they should send him away in the space and let him make the run!walcott didnt change but the players around him did
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wooooooooooooooow more injury bu*lshit, gibbs & ramsey out that’s 6 now (sagna, gibbs, ramsey, verma, wilshere, diaby), y do our medical staff & fitness coach, sit with their fingers up their asses instead of doing their jobs!!!, it’s becoming REALLY frustrating!!! or r the board so cheap that we don’t even have 1???
GOONER TILL I DIE
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Walcott is basically totally inconsistent and has been ever since he joined. He said last season was his most productive. But he was missing for half of it. Even when he isnt he goes missing in games and most forgive him for everything if he gets a goal.
But at the end of the day, on a consistent basis he simply isnt good enough if we are to win things. He is only 22 still but hasnt learned a thing. His crossing is as bad as Sagna’s. Invariably nothing comes from the right side. The only time it did was when Nasri came in from there or Gervinho pops up there.
Look at Nani, just like Ronaldo, all tricks and no end product in the beginning, now look at both…end product…..walcott…no tricks and no plan. Now…just the same.
Its time he watched the guy waiting to take his place, Alex Oxlade C and worked out that he is only in the team because Wenger thinks pace is the only way to score.
Sheringham, Shearer, Fowler wouldn’t make a Wenger side….says it all.
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He is very inconsistent but arshavin is more inconsistent which is why walcott starts.walcott is more of an impact sub and is better playing in the champions league as their is more space. aoc will be good in the future but needs to be brought in slowly as he is young. look how jenkinson has been thrown into the team when he needs more time.
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I’m sorry but this post really is a bit of a let down. I don’t like being too critical of bloggers since I know it’s a rather tough job and only a part-time hobby for most but you really should do better. Here’s my two cents:
The post is rather general. You’re stating opinions as though they were facts. For ex, “He isn’t good enough to even knock the ball into the box”. Now, nobody claims Walcott’s a fantastic crosser but he has improved his pullbacks and passes and the increase in his assists is a testament to that.
Similarly, missing one free kick doesn’t make him ‘a superflous player’. RVP missed tons of them in the last few months before scoring the one against Sunderland. Set pieces are not a regular part of his game and even though it would seem he is working on them now, it would be rather harsh to judge him on that.
I’m not saying Walcott’s a fantastic player by any means. You’re bang on the money when you say he is predictable and speed is perhaps his only weapon. The boy still has a lot to improve before he can be called truly world class.
I hope you don’t take this comment the wrong way. Just my thoughts on the player and the article and how I think you could’ve improved it but hey, what do I know!
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walcott should be given a chance up front with van persie playing behind him when we are playing against smaller teams he will scare any centre half with his pace,he will never make a great winger unless his final ball improves,people have to remember he was bought to be a striker
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Malik do you just sit there all day long trying to think up more anti arsenal bollox just to annoy us?! Because someone gets a knock or whatever, all you do is blame our club. I suppose it was our med staff’s fault that Sagna got his leg bust then!
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Walcott is just young player who needs more time..he shouldnt be in the starting line up he is just good but shouldnt be at the starting line up.
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It is not a coincidence that we have injured players every year. The simple truth is that the training is not done at the intensity of the actual games of the PL like the other top clubs do.
I recently went to a seminar on the subject of training and player development and all the lecturers agreed that when you train at pace (a) and play games at pace (z) something is bound to go wrong.
As for Theo he is not a winger so should not be judged as one.
As usual the stubborn manager thinks he knows better even though he has been proved wrong since the lad arrived.
Its the same with Arshavin who is constantly played out of position.
Watch him play for the Russian national team and you will see what a class act he is.
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walcott useful as an sub impact!!gve arshavin n gervinho r even benayoun to start..walcott shud b set free n scond half..he cud even score hatrick wen use him as a sub impact..he cn torn defence apart n the scond half..
ithink we dnt need diarra..for midfield i suggest we get these trio..goetze..hazard n david silva..r even one r two of them..bt if we get them three dats even good..we need these three playmaker..wish to see diaby n tv5 get back soon n fit enough..for this whole season..
cn u ol see our midfield like this?
-song/diaby- -wilshere/arteta-
-goetze- -david silva- -hazard-
-rvp-
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you have no idea what you’re on about. Did you see the England vs Montenegro game? Walcott’s cross was pin point which lead to the first goal you numpty. You’re basing your stupid opinion on one game, compared to many many great performances.
Goal vs Shakhtar Doneskt last year in Champions League. He has the pace, and the finishing was world class.
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Most of you show that you don’t have footballing brains.If Theo was not there on Sunday, believe me it would have been very difficult. He was off foam but you could still seem him troubling their defence. The Manager does not know how to use him, he should be left a free role, that way he would be most useful. Besides, we need to change the system so as to get the best from him. Switch to 4:2:3:1 with Theo at the apex of the system, RVP in the Bergkamp role and tyou will see him transformed immediately.
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I’d rather give Park a chance, keep walcott as substitute. Why, blimey, buy Park, an international and proven player but not even play him yet? And he’s supposed to be leaving in 2 years…what’s wenger up to?….unless we start seeing walcott bang in goals, which I dont see them yet.
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What happened to Diaby due back two weeks ago? We have far to many “Vermaelen” Injuries where players never seem fit
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J.Lo says:
October 17, 2011 at 12:17 pm
walcott useful as an sub impact!!gve arshavin n gervinho r even benayoun to start..walcott shud b set free n scond half..he cud even score hatrick wen use him as a sub impact..he cn torn defence apart n the scond half..
ithink we dnt need diarra..for midfield i suggest we get these trio..goetze..hazard n david silva..r even one r two of them..bt if we get them three dats even good..we need these three playmaker..wish to see diaby n tv5 get back soon n fit enough..for this whole season..
cn u ol see our midfield like this?
-song/diaby- -wilshere/arteta-
-goetze- -david silva- -hazard-
-rvp-
david silva? what a silly comment silva is at the heart beat of city offence not a chance. we should have got mata
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challenging team next year would be
sczezsny
sagna cahill verma santos
hazard song wilshere arteta gervinho
vantastic
2nd period substitute any player with super subs (walcott, oxlade, ramsey, arshavin, benayoun)
this is a team who wants to win cups!
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and that team would demand 2 money splashing transfer, cahill and hazard , splash the 50million guys!
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it’s stupid to think that we would replace walcott after a couple of bad matches… he shold be given a chance to find his form… arshavin was terible last season, but was given a chance and now looks good… we can’t a sell player when he loses his form, especially someone so young and so talented… he wasn’t that bad so you should ask that question, he scored and assisted a few times…
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J. Lo you absolute moron. This isn’t championship manager, you can’t just buy who you want. We will get one of hazard or gotze, at BEST. Gotze playing behind van persie would be incredible
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Walcott is good.
But for sure all of Arsenal’s current problems are just because of its current coach,board and management in general including even Ivan Gazidis apart from ONLY Stan Kroenke and Alicia Usmanov; they[coach,board and management] are very mean,egocentric/self-centered, greedy,money-minded, economical/economists/economisers with money,unfocused,not serious,incompetent,uncommitted etc.
So Arsenal should just FIRE/SACK Wenger and the WHOLE of its current board and management in general including Ivan Gazidis apart from ONLY Stan Kroenke and Alicia Usmanov TODAY/NOW and replace them immediately with a coach and management which has the opposite/vice-versa characteristics and behaviors of its current ones[coach and management in general] and they will get positive results after doing this[trophies year/season in season out].
In the coach’s position;I advise them to fire Wenger and replace Wenger with any one of these elegant coaches: Pep Guardiola,Frank Rijkaard,Guus Hiddink,Bert Van Marwijk [Netherlands' current national team coach],Marco Van Basten,Ruud Gullit,Carlos Dunga[Brazil],David Moyes,Harry Redknapp,Ronald Koeman,Marcello Lippi,Hassan Shehata,Luis Van Gaal,etc.
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Theo has had more good games than bad when played with the right formation. What use is blistering pace if the midfield slows down every attack? What is the point of having him race down the wing when there is no one in the box to receive the ball?
Wenger is the problem and not the players. I counted at least 5 chances for someone to tap in at either the far or near post in the last 30 mins n still we played with one upfront.
Wenger buys young players in stead of experience, then doesnt play them cause they are inexperienced or plays them out of position and lets them leave for next to nothing.(Nordveidt, Merida, Vela, Bendtner, Adebayor, Larsson…). Same thing is happening to Theo. He has proven he can score and cross the ball, but we never play to his strengths.
Great game by Kolscieny & Pers, we are headed in the right direction for the moment just keep Djourou out
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Honestly, i believe Theo can be one of the best impact subs in the league. When the defenders are tired in the 60th minute, we should bring him on for either gervinho or AOC. He would go right past every defender and would have a major impact. Arshavin can also be used this way or even be used as a number 10. He showed he can play in the center this weekend.
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wallcot is hindering our play just imagine him running thinking we have a counter only for him to run out of ideas and make a back pass when you were at your toes thinking something might happen. We are in a very poor state so lets play those who perfom and stop forcing players who dont perfom game time
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first of all walcott is not afective enough on the right, he would be much better placed on the left so he could see more of the game and have more shooting situations when cutting in on his favoured right foot. he does not finish well when presented with time to think so is not ready for a striking roll yet. he is pathetic at getting his head up and picking out a pass and slows the play down way to much. dont get me wrong i rate him as a player but think if HE gets a chance to prove himself then ryo and oxlade also desserve a chance to show what they can do in that position. rosicky looked brilliant yesterday. i love the way he glides across the pitch.
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Walcott is really a sprinter not a true footballer. As a winger he is a consistent disappointment, his crossing and striking is innacurate and erratic and really hasn’t improved in years. As we all agree he is better off coming on as an impact player later in the game defenses run scared of his speed he just needs someone to keep up to pass to in the middle who can scorer that doesn’t require a long cross because his are often rubbish.
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Our main problems have been in our head since the Carling cup final end of February. And that’s Wenger’s job to get them out of that losing lack of confidence mindset. That’s what managers are for. Since then we have won only 5 of 19 premier league games – shocking.
We have been drawing and losing to teams with half our wage bill far fewer internationals and a fraction of our players champions league experience eg West Brom last season. How do you explain it ? You can’t blame Citeh’s money for that can you? Money only explains why webcams beat City or Chelsea, but not bottom feeder teams.
It’s because Wenger can’t organize, train, develop tactics, and lead the team like he used to. He has lost the ability.
This is a caretaker season with a patched up team. I believe wenger will be out in May once we finish 6th or 7th Kroenke is a competitive winner himself who wants to expand Arsenals international brand. He knows he won’t do that under Wenger and with us not in the CL. Attendance and shirt sales etc are already down. Its a matter of time.
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i think WALCOTT is is been trying to bust into striking role ,, but i doubt that because he’s too selfish as a player, so why not just try him for what he just required for… but i doubt he can play that role of a striker, even if he can play it… that is not now, just give him more chance to improve him self in arsenal…, because that’s how HENRY started for arsenal….
WALCOOTT isn’t good enough to prove himself in arsenal.
buy us players that can compete for any challenges, trophies as well…
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I think we should stop playing him out of position, and try him up front with RVP. That will give us a bit of space to try out RYO and Chamerlain (who looks really hungry for it). If it doesn’t work drop TW back onto the wing in either case.
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WALCOTT has the talent people ca hate as much as they want
but he has speed and he cann finishe.
most of all deffenders aint sure how to deffend people dnt see it but if you watch deffenders always move out of there positions and leave big games when they try to deffend agains him.
he is getting better and better but lets not expect him to be the new messi. v perise started to be his bestr when he turned 26.
i watch his yesterday and he looked lost he wanst playing as a winger he was trying to be a stiker and a winger
you cant do both.
i think wenger should just tell him to stay up front with v perise or stay mostly on the wings.
and about alex and ryo
wenger dosnt want to make the same mestaks that he made with walcott
everyone was expecting walcot to be as good as henry when he was 16 and now thatr he has not done it
people are calling for his head.
alex and ryo will not play in big games this seasion
expect them to be out of the media.
this season
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Ya these days his impact on the team is declining & I agree with irish gooner that he is better as substitue than full time player .on sunderland game I realy needed him to be replaced by any one of the new signings , particularly chamberlain. he was lost when he took the freekick high over the bar & wenger shoul try him the way he is effective , as substitute!
by the way RVP has proved he is a great player!! Go RVP
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Walcott is a good player but he is very inconsistent and never looks like he has the ball under control.
I think he has had plenty of chances to prove himself,he gives his best but does not always come up to the mark because he is unpredictable in his play.
I would give Oxlade Chamberlain a start at least and put Walcott on the bench, we need to get another forward getting some goals with V. Persie and Walcott is not up to it.
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Theo has simply got to make better decisions, its very frustrated for him and the fans. Its as though if he has too much time in and around the box he fluffs it, but when under pressure he delivers something. Hes a player who should not be allowed too much time to think, it always ends badly when that happens.
Example, when hes on the wing he is not sure whether to cross or beat the man. I think he needs to work on his crosses, every training session, crosses. If he can learn to cross he can become a better finisher to boot.
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He is a converted sprinter and it has been painful at times watching him learn his trade. He is at best an impact player in the premier league. Young of Man U and Oxelade-Chamberlain will by pass him because they are footballers as is Wright-Phillips who wasted his talent at at Man City and Chelsea because of the money.
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Leave Walcott alone…I still Prefer Him to arterta anyways, He(Mikel) is still on my good book yet..Theo Just had a terrible day,that’s it.i know he’ll play better against stoke #CaseClosed
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Leave Walcott alone…I still Prefer Him to arterta anyways, He(Mikel) is Not impressive at all(Not The Arterta i knew @ Everton)..Theo Just had a terrible day,that’s it.i know he’ll play better against stoke #CaseClosed
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This article is crap. Do something better with your time.
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try him as a centre-forward. if he dont shows as a usefull striker than sell him. simple as that
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I think wenger should be sincere to himself and the arsenal team. He should simply bench that walcott, he performed 0.1% in the sunderland’s game but i wonder he enjoyed a full game.
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Walcott is a young player and is still developing, i feel we get on players back to early on in their careers in this country. Everyone believes that all players coming through should be at the Rooney level, when life just isn’t that fair.
How can his career be over at arsenal? its madness to even think it. At the end of the day he is not a winger, never wanted to be and when he doesn’t produce we are all over him.
Give him time, give him a chance up front and see what happens. If he is still not producing the goods then comment.
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I’m sorry admin but you sound like a hater. Walcott is the most criticised young footballer in the world. You all moan about him all the time. Last year…”Walcott has no football brain, he’s rubbiSh” but then he scored an hat-trick against blackpool next game. Walcott never shines in big games… Him and fabregas destroyed chelsea together, and walcott caused barca problems when we played them at home. When everyone said we won’t make champs league this year, who scored 2 of the 3 goals that helped us through? Before we got destroyed by man utd, who kept the hope alive in the first hlf? Some of u might say walcott is rubbish, but who did messi and guadiola say is the danger player? Walcott. So he can’t be rubbish then can he. Stop attacking everyone in your team. First djourou, then squid, then kos, eboue, jenkinson,mertesacker,ramsey, asharvin,rosicky,chamahk,frimpong…now walcott. Soon you’ll start attacking persie,wilshere and vermaelan and even schezney. Stop doing that, support your team and stop sounding like an undercover city fan. Walcott would not be on a fifa cover he was useless as u all claim. Btw lol, walCott is my fave player in the would. He’s an impact player and always makes the difference. If we get a good feeder like fabregas, then u’ll see more goals.
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I like theo and i see him become a great striker all he needs is to improve his last touch on the ball when in box coz what arsenal needs is a “clinical finisher” who can put those balls at the back of the net just like king thiery henry did. With that he may become king theo the great. Guys where is carlos alberto vela? Vela is another good one .
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super-sub…nuff’said
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Walcott is crap, crap. I want him sold
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Walcott off form, but hoping he will be back to his best, however the lickes of rosicky and andrey arshavin he will have to step up to the mark quickly. Rosicky had a great game against sunderland. Also, arshavin played a fantastic role on his behalf when he came on as a sub, he is gettin back to his best!
Come on Arsenal!!!!!
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he’s the reason why chamberlain and chu park young are being held back because wenger fears it will kill his confidence if he’s starts getting benched.
but arsene wenger needs to know that he’s being paid to win games not to nurse deadwoods and treat them with gloves.
i dont think mancini or ferguson will hold on to underperformers this long.
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maybe if we change our system to 4-4-2 might help him to use his pace and run behind defenders from through balls and score. being on the wing in 4-3-3 system doesnt help him. he cannot dribble and his delivery are not so good.
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What is it with you Walcott bashers ? I see the same problem with Arshavin. Bergkamp says that Van Persie is playing out of position. Walcott was a striker before he came to Arsenal but he ended up as a winger. This is a hugh difference. Arshavin was a midfielder when he arrived but he ended up on the left wing. This is also a hugh difference. The players have tried to adopt to the change in positions however it is not easy. I believe that Walcott want to play the striker role. I believe that he should be given the opportunity. If he then fails, so be it, he was given his chance. I do not want to see this young man leave Arsenal. He looks like a late bloomer and will show his abilities as time goes on. He was on fire last year until he was cut down and had to go on the injury list. He is an Arsenal man and should remain so.
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i have been an arsenal fan for a long time,and i have played club football forever,i am not a guru,but WALCOTT is a league1 player,he cannot create anything,he has no skill;all he has a little of speed,rosicky,diaby,arshavin all these have to go,loan walcott,lets see if he is any use,i have also been a newcastle fan,and for once i can say newcastle has a better team than arsenal,but they do not have a world class player like van persie,but together they do have a better team,better goalkeeper,together defence midfield is combative and they have width,arsenal needs to sign a worldclass striker,why we did not sign parker,but we sign benyahon this does not make sense,we also should of sign shay given,he is better than chesney,and a good backup.
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Theo is inconsistent.
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