Theo Walcott: Page 113 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Theo Walcott

Biggus

Theo would be good as half of a front two playing off a bigger physical front man.

Cannon

One of his best performances. Played with a lot of commitment yesterday. MOTM along with Santi for me.

MistaT

His finishing is superb these days - fucking love seeing him know how to put it in the net.

Armor

Really impressed me yesterday. Feels slightly weird saying this but he was a leader yesterday, worked his socks off and produced the goods when we really needed it. Someone must have had a word in his ear because he didn't look half as bothered in some of our recent games.

lorddulaarsenal

Jinxing it as best he can

http://www.teamtalk.com/news/2483/8714437/Walcott-driven-by-fear-of-failure

Qwiss

Armor wrote:
Really impressed me yesterday. Feels slightly weird saying this but he was a leader yesterday, worked his socks off and produced the goods when we really needed it. Someone must have had a word in his ear because he didn't look half as bothered in some of our recent games.

He's 24 now. In the next couple of years you'd want to see him add a bit of leadership to his game. Obviously he's not really captain material but just to be a responsible senior member of the squad.

This whole idea of him not being bothered doesn't work for me either. I think he's usually trying to get into the game but when he's unsuccessful people assume its a lack of effort. Its very rare that is actually the problem.

y va marquer

I generally think that the accusations of lack of effort that are levelled against Theo are way too harsh.
I've never seen him as being a lazy or uncomitted player.
How then to explain those periods and games where he is peripheral?
I have the impression with Theo that he needs a good run of games to work his way into the team, if his season is disrupted by being dropped or through injury (which has been the case) each time he returns it takes some time for him to settle and hit his stride.

Mirth

y va marquer wrote:
How then to explain those periods and games where he is peripheral?

I suspect because he's constantly trying to wait for a pass that slips him through. There was one of those heat map thingies that showed him as our furthest forward last season.

He is a little lazier (probably harsh) these days though, or expects others to pick up his slack because he's focused his attacking duties. Either way, it's horrible to watch when it doesn't come off.

y va marquer

Hmmm. There is something in that.
He does get wound up with those around him more easily this season too.
An indication that he expects more than they provide maybe.

GaelForce

I really don't think he works nearly as hard on the pitch as he used to, defensively or in terms of making runs in attack. When he's playing like he did Feb-April it makes him the most annoying player in the team, but you can't complain so much when he's being efficient.

Brilliant last night, and 14 goals and 13 assists in the league is superb. A better total than Mata, Cazorla or Hazard...

Timbob

I think he drifts in and out of games and seasons because he has a very limited way of hurting teams in open play. If a team plays him well there's not much he can do, although he always stretches teams because he's a huge threat over the top.

Good thing nowadays is that even when he's absolutely awful he's always likely to create or score a goal.

Gunner89

If he gets a chance he hits the target 9 times out of 10

banduan

Gunner89 wrote:
If he gets a chance he hits the target 9 times out of 10

and we can never have enough of that

Armor

qs! wrote:
This whole idea of him not being bothered doesn't work for me either. I think he's usually trying to get into the game but when he's unsuccessful people assume its a lack of effort. Its very rare that is actually the problem.

Half as bothered was maybe a little harsh but i think he's had a few games lately where he's been a little indulgent and not given enough help to Sagna, particularly in attack.

Qwiss

Armor wrote:
qs! wrote:
This whole idea of him not being bothered doesn't work for me either. I think he's usually trying to get into the game but when he's unsuccessful people assume its a lack of effort. Its very rare that is actually the problem.

Half as bothered was maybe a little harsh but i think he's had a few games lately where he's been a little indulgent and not given enough help to Sagna, particularly in attack.

I think there are massive questions about how the teams set up in regards to how we want our wing forwards and full backs to play together. Walcott usually does abandon the wing when Sagna gets forward but isn't he supposed to? I suppose the question is whether he's more winger or forward and I think its pretty clear at least he thinks he's more a forward. And I'd imagine its what Wenger thinks too.

I think he does track back though. To a point. And again who do you want as our most advanced player when we win back the ball, Theo or Giroud?

Rex

He is clearly deployed as a forward. I don't even understand how there can be any confusion about that. He is supposed to be close to the central striker when we play it long for certain. Sometimes Wenger changes it a bit and tells him to stay wide more, but most of the time that is not the case.

I also imagine that is THE reason why Wenger prefers having Cazorla starting from the other flank, and is SUPPOSED to drift central when we are in possession, as opposed to a striker like Podolski or Gervinho. When we lose possession Theo is often out of position, thus forcing Ramsey/Arteta to cover for him on the wing. Since Santi is usually further back than Podolski/Gervinho often is he is then mostly in a position to help out centrally to cover for Ramsey/Arteta.

Ray

He's a bit like Lampard, under rated due to his lack of fancy skills, but will get a high number of goals/assists a season.

goon

I don't think he's underrated because of his lack of skills, it's because of these spells he goes through where he's garbage.

But, when you consider he's had a pretty up and down season, from starting just one of the first 10 league games to his recent shite spell, then his stats are pretty amazing. Eventually he'll have a season where he's on top form from start to finish, he'll get 30 odd goals and probably a similar number of assists, mostly from the wing. He's getting closer and closer to that.

Bold Tone

With that new avatar, i thought you were Lagos till i started reading the second paragraph!

Captain

Rayman wrote:
He's a bit like Lampard, under rated due to his lack of fancy skills, but will get a high number of goals/assists a season.

No, because Lampard can do pretty much anything that he wants with a football.

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