Xcdude24 wrote:
Lee Dixon was on MOTD last night comparing Ox to Theo, saying that Theo also showed a lot of potential when he broke into the first team. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Ox looks WAY more polished (especially technically) than Theo did at 18.
Way more. I keep seeing Chamberlain described as raw, but he doesn't look raw at all to me. I think he looks comfortable and balanced in everything he does. A bit to learn tactically compared with a top 28 year old footballer, sure, and maybe that's where the 'raw' tag comes from, but more proficient technically than nearly everyone else in our squad, for my money.
Theo was electrifying at Southampton when he first broke into the team at 16. I was absolutely blown away by him. He just got the ball and ran at people over and over again, although even then it was obvious his dribbling was a little loose for the top level, but you thought that'd improve with time (it hasn't), so it didn't detract from him. He was just so astonishingly quick, and his composure in front of goal mixed with the accuracy and intelligence in his finishing meant he really looked something seriously special. It's bullshit for anyone to claim otherwise.
They're two very different players. Chamberlain is a midfielder that has learned from a young age how the game moves around him during the different phases of play, with good touch and technique compatible with those congested midfield areas, and with the added ability of being able to drive with the ball at good speed and the skill to beat players one-on-one. Walcott is a striker that has been taught from a young age to sniff space and weakness in the back 4 and exploit it with great timing and movement, and how to put the ball in the back of the net when he does get in on goal.
Walcott was doing this at 17:
Might have only been U21 level, but those German defenders were (and are) no mugs. And he was doing things like that to Championship teams as a 16 year old too. Chamberlain can do other things but he can't do that, few can. We just don't see much of Walcott playing to his (limited but awesome) strengths at Arsenal.
