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I read and saw a bit in the summer about Theo really going for it to get into top condition, heard him talking about how important it was for him to have a good season, and there was Wenger asking the fans to trust him on Walcott because he was going to have a big season - I didn't pay much attention to it at the time, but I have to say, Theo's winning me back round.

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I have really liked what I've seen of him back on the right wing. The hard work has paid off because he looks as fast as ever; looked like he'd lost a fraction last season, and, more importantly, he looks fit enough to still sprint in the 90th minute - which was what always made Theo such a phenomenal athlete before his injury. He also looks more agile and balanced than last season and is playing with real concentration and aggression; there's a stat going around that he made more tackles in August than he made in the whole of last season!

I think it also helps that he's now got the striker experiment out of his system and has accepted Wenger was right all these years about him being at his most dangerous off the right wing. He looks confident for the first time since his big injury, barring maybe the two weeks he had up front around the time of the cup final in 2015. His top draw movement is making a difference again because he's not tripping over his own feet or taking a heavy touch. If he can keep this up then we go from having a player that had become a bit of a joke to one of the best wide players in the League. Could even see new levels from Theo if he can hit it off with Xhaka and his phenomenal long passing. Saw a glimpse of that against Watford, hopefully it can become a real weapon as they build a greater understanding.

Saw this earlier as well, easy to forget how many times Theo used to come up with big goals against big teams for us.

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Maybe 10+ goals and 10+ assists in the League this season? If he can go relatively injury free I fancy him to do it.

a hungry walcott is a useful asset.

i still dont have him in my starting 11, and have lost trust in him after his unreservedly, inexplicably gash 15/16 performances

I think that second winger spot shouldn't have an automatic starter in it unless someone really makes it there on. Theo needs to feel the pressure and others need chances too.

That said if Theo keeps playing the way he has so far this season he might just make it his own again. If he can protect his fullback as he has then he'll probably win Wengers trust again. Main thing is obviously fitness for him so I hope that lasts.

I thought he looked finished last season but fair play to him he's worked hard and come into this season with a renewed hunger. How great would it be to have the pace of Theo and Hector down the right if both were in form?

I have no trust in Theo, because essentially, he is weak and a coward. He always talks a good game when things are going well, but whenever its tough, he is one of the first to disappear.

I was hoping he's getting sold this summer, but giving him high wages and the fact that he himself is such a pussy, i knew it was hard to get rid of him. Unfortunately Wenger wasnt ruthless enough and didnt buy a world class player to start ahead of him, so all i can do now is hope that he contributes as much as he can.

Very dire situation.

I think what we've learnt about Theo since his last contract is that he's principally motivated by his own interests and those of the club barely register.

If he feels under pressure to get fit and produce for his own sake, good. I still think he could be very useful for us, although the ideal scenario would've been to sell him for a fee in the summer as a part payment for a superior replacement.

he started last season like a house on fire. one of my best friends hailed Theo the number 9 when the season began - saying he made the offense more fluid than Giroud, etc. and then the rest of the season happened.

i do not trust him. we've had 9 years of him, 5 or 6 of which he was a mature player. in that time, he's given us maybe 10 decent games.

marv3llous wrote:

I have no trust in Theo, because essentially, he is weak and a coward. He always talks a good game when things are going well, but whenever its tough, he is one of the first to disappear.

I was hoping he's getting sold this summer, but giving him high wages and the fact that he himself is such a pussy, i knew it was hard to get rid of him. Unfortunately Wenger wasnt ruthless enough and didnt buy a world class player to start ahead of him, so all i can do now is hope that he contributes as much as he can.

Very dire situation.

To be fair wenger went in for Mkhitaryan. ManU's insane wage offer for him is the only reason theos on that right flank now.

speedy wrote:
marv3llous wrote:

I have no trust in Theo, because essentially, he is weak and a coward. He always talks a good game when things are going well, but whenever its tough, he is one of the first to disappear.

I was hoping he's getting sold this summer, but giving him high wages and the fact that he himself is such a pussy, i knew it was hard to get rid of him. Unfortunately Wenger wasnt ruthless enough and didnt buy a world class player to start ahead of him, so all i can do now is hope that he contributes as much as he can.

Very dire situation.

To be fair wenger went in for Mkhitaryan. ManU's insane wage offer for him is the only reason theos on that right flank now.

That's true. Such a shame we couldnt replace the little crybaby. Simply has to get 10+ from the wing to repay Wenger.

I was a big fan of Theo prior to last season. It is precisely because of his previous contributions that I hated his collapse towards the end of last season even more.

We'll know if Walcott's a serious player again when we start all match threads with "Feeeeoooooo"

He is physically in the best shape he has ever been in my opinion. He has been here ages but is really only entering what is normally a footballer's prime. I could see him contributing heavily this season.

Last season was quite intriguing. His finishing which was a strength normally just eluded him. Hope he gets it back.

I don't think he's been good so far, but he looks much better than he did last season. He'll do alright for us as long as we don't need to depend on him I reckon.

Claudius wrote:

he started last season like a house on fire. one of my best friends hailed Theo the number 9 when the season began - saying he made the offense more fluid than Giroud, etc. and then the rest of the season happened.

i do not trust him. we've had 9 years of him, 5 or 6 of which he was a mature player. in that time, he's given us maybe 10 decent games.

I don't think he started last season all that well at all. Its just the same old nonsense you get everytime someone quicker than Giroud starts. Takes people a while to realise pace isn't everything.

Claudius wrote:

he started last season like a house on fire. one of my best friends hailed Theo the number 9 when the season began - saying he made the offense more fluid than Giroud, etc. and then the rest of the season happened.

i do not trust him. we've had 9 years of him, 5 or 6 of which he was a mature player. in that time, he's given us maybe 10 decent games.

Pretty much - he's always had spells where he's looked good - usually when his contract is up. If he keeps it up for 6 months then I might sit up and take notice.

Good on him for upping his efforts.

He knows his spot in the squad is in danger and to be fair he's responding well

Qwiss! wrote:
Claudius wrote:

he started last season like a house on fire. one of my best friends hailed Theo the number 9 when the season began - saying he made the offense more fluid than Giroud, etc. and then the rest of the season happened.

i do not trust him. we've had 9 years of him, 5 or 6 of which he was a mature player. in that time, he's given us maybe 10 decent games.

I don't think he started last season all that well at all. Its just the same old nonsense you get everytime someone quicker than Giroud starts. Takes people a while to realise pace isn't everything.

he had 1 great game through the middle against united but was never able to reproduce that level

I think there is a distinction between performing well and working hard. For me, because the standards of Theo was seriously rock bottom last year, any sort of improvement would thus be easily noticeable and welcome by anyone. But generally speaking, I don't think he is that good in the first 3 matches that we can talk about serious improvements and him being a vital part of our team. For starters, as a 140k player I would expect much more in a player.

Despite being here for more than a decade he has never seriously performed for a season, other than that one season where he was looking for a new contract. Even then, he slackened off right after signing one. I won't pin our hopes on him. When the going gets tough he will disappear again, you can bet your house on it. I just hope he is useful enough whenever we call upon him and get cut our losses once Wenger leaves.

Let him have a good season first. Even then i would consider cashing on him.

I think Theo offers a lot more than pace. He is one of our best crossers of the ball and has multiple ways of turning a defender in his repertoire. His runs are well timed and he makes smart runs that draw players out of position as well. He takes players on quite often.

And he really tries. That really made me warm up to him.

End of last season though none of this happened. Basically everything he did went to shit, at a time he was supposed to be fighting for a Euro call-up. At some point he even seemed to stop trying.