Since the closure of the transfer window, it’s been all quiet on the Walcott front. Events in the final week of the window followed a confusing trajectory. At one point Walcott was issued an ultimatum – ‘Sign or be sold’ – only for Arsenal to relent and allow him to stay without reaching agreement on his contract.
As bizarre and unlikely as it seems, my understanding is that is played out pretty much like that. On the Monday, Dick Law made a series of phone calls to enquire about the availability of other wingers from the continent – presumably as potential Walcott replacements. Within 48 hours or so, Arsene Wenger was telling the assembled media that Walcott would stay. In in the interim, the club obviously decided that the upheaval caused by a third major departure was not worth it.
At the time, Arsene said he expected Walcott to sign a new deal. Of course he said that – anything else would be tantamount to admitting the player was on borrowed time. But now, a month on, an agreement seems no closer. Not only that, but Walcott has fallen out of the first-team and was met with a smattering of jeers on his last appearance at the Emirates.
Yesterday, he had his say. Speaking at the launch of the Football Association’s Just Play scheme, he said:
“I’ve been judged, with people saying it’s all about money. It’s never been that with me. Playing up front is important. It’s one of the main factors for me.”
It seems like a well-rehearsed line; he trotted it out to countless journalists yesterday, hence today’s headlines. I’ve met Walcott – he is one of the most media-savvy footballers I’ve come across. When you ask him a question, his eyes glaze over and he goes in to an automated, robotic response. I’m sure there’s a sparkling personality in there, but media training and inherent conservatism have clouded it in the banale rhetoric of football. For him to say something as arguably controversial as this, it had to be planned.
He went on:
“I signed as a striker. I’ve learnt my trade out on the wing. Hopefully, I’ll get to play up front in the next few games. It’s frustrating being on the bench, but it’s one of those things I have to deal with.”
You didn’t sign as a striker, Theo. You signed as a sixteen year old. At that age, William Gallas was a striker, and Kieran Gibbs a winger. A players development between 16 and 23, Walcott’s current age, cannot be pre-determined. It’s been seven years, and Walcott looks far more like a winger than a centre-forward now.
Theo’s supposed desire is also tactically naieve: Arsenal play 4-3-3. That means three forwards. He is a striker, just positioned in a wide area. If it’s good enough for Lukas Podolski, it ought to be more than good enough for him.
And if this is really how he feels, then there’s something very childish about his attitude. Theo hasn’t played upfront for almost a decade. He doesn’t even really know what that experience is like at the top level. But he knows what it represents. He knows what it stands for and he wants, “like Thierry Henry”, to be the main man.
Theo could learn a thing or two from Mikel Arteta. And by that, I don’t mean about styling his hair a glue-gun rather than a hairdryer. After Sunday’s game against Man City, the Spaniard was asked about his new role as a holding midfielder. He said:
“It is a big transition but it is more a mental thing. The boss is convinced that is the best thing for the team and I am too, so let’s do it.”
This is a player who is more than capable of playing an attacking role, and yet has sacrificed that for the team. And this is a guy who, unlike Walcott, does not have a long career stretching in front of him. He’s on borrowed time in football terms, and yet is prepared to put the team first.
When you add it all up, this “big factor” of wanting to play through the middle doesn’t really seem to make any sense, does it? And that’s when it becomes exposed for what it is: a cover story. Another PR spin from ‘camp Walcott’ so that when he refuses to sign a new deal they can protest that it wasn’t about the money. Perhaps I’m wrong and he will stay, but this looks to me a lot like he’s getting his excuses in early.
Don’t worry, Theo; you’re excused. I suspect we’ll cope just fine without you.
Top Gun
Take that Theo!
Arteta is fast becoming one of my all time favourite players. He oozes class. Top class pro. Everything Arsenal F.C requires. Been missing from our ranks for a long long time !
Long may he stay in the team .
I hope d latter suppose to be given a chance and let see how it’z gonna bd
I think AW sticking to his guns in Theo’s issue is a nice change.I also liked his demeneour with Song’s sale.fast,crisp and no nonsense with the medai(“we would like to keep him” etc). I think this a changed wenger.He has seen too many of the kids that he developed leave for pastures better than the greens of emirates. So he now thinks and puts himself and the club before these players.
If Theo thinks he can play as a striker he is deluded. He has no skill to hold the ball, no bring others into play, or even layoff properly for other attackers, hes one footed, cant dribble, is short (no headers) and doesnt have sufficient upper body strength to hold off defenders or the nous to take striking positions.I always see him waving hands just outside the box whenever we anticipate some action inside it.To me hes a bottler and if he doesnt want to sign at whatver the club offers him, hes free to leave. We are through building teams around egotistic pricks( cesc,rvp) that think they are being hindered by being in this team.
you wont be missed theo…good luck and good bye.
GS, it’s ridiculous to say that at 16 – your playing position isn’t determined – it is determined! Now that’s not to say it can’t be changed, but I think you’ll find that the majority of 16 year olds will continue to play in their current position, unless a position arises where they play better.
Walcott has never been convincing as a winger, so to say that he helps the team by playing there is nonsense.
Not that I really want to stick up for him; but I think you’re being pedantic when you say he’s one of the three strikers; clearly he meant he wants to be the centre of the three strikers.
I would say let him put his money where his mouth is: if he thinks he can be a good central striker, play him for 5 games and see if he can prove himself.
One other thing, comparing him to Podoldki and Arteta is just wrong. You don’t know what ptomises where made to him when he signed as a 16 year old. It wouldn’t surprise me if he was told that he would be the main striker and made promises that haven’t been kept. Plus Arteta and Podolski have a lot more experience in being able to change their positions. Plus they are in no position to argue cos that haven’t got that much time left.
Walcott believes that his time to shine is now, and if he plays in what he believes are not his best positions then he will never shine and his career will float away into the abyss.
Just to clarify, I’m no big Walcott fan – but I thought the article was unfair
playing him 5 games in center can rui our season.there is no time for experimentation.even if we played 442 we could have played him there but in present formation 443 he can not expect to play in middle.he does not have a good first touch.can not hold the ball up and is nothing ike a central striker.even his finishing is wayward.i just can’t understand how he thinks he can play in center.he just can’t be that naive.he definitely wants out and all this talking is because he wants to leave on good terms.
See not so hard is it Wanadoo…
Cpl of weeks ago all you were talking about was blokes sucking you off.. or was it the other way around.
This comment is constructive.
Such a big turn around.. Brain Surgery?
This isn’t a game of Football Manager, Wanadoo. You can’t just try out a player for 5 games. Wenger has coached Walcott for 7 years, so he knows what is best in relation to the rest of his players.
Furthermore, you’re out of your depth with the ‘three strikers’ situation. Clearly you didn’t read the article properly, and you clearly didn’t watch Walcotts interview either.
The whole problem arises from wanting to play as a central striker, the article also stated that so we all know that’s what Walcott meant already. He doesn’t possess the old-fashioned qualities a centre forward should have, he would only work as an out and out striker in a 4-4-2 formation, which would change the entire shape of the team.
Lastly, Podolski has no room to argue, but Walcott does? You’re talking about the youngest European player in history to reach 100 international caps. He’s just turned 27. If he hasn’t got that much time left then I’m guessing you must think Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are completely delusional.
Good shout Wanadoo.
Was in Barcelona for the weekend so sadly did not find time for the game. I bet Mancini played two DMs the chicken – always does, this always gives us the edge though.
Never seen GS so aggressive, where was this assessment on past Arsenal players that were defended. Anyways, Theo is not top grade, he has been hidden out there because he ain’t soon he will lose the wing spot to a talented midfielder/winger or even Ox.
The penny seems to have finally dropped with GS that when our players refuse to sign their contracts, then that’s exactly what it means. They want out! No point getting upset with Walcott. It’s always Wenger that’s banged on that all our players who want out ‘will sign’. If Wenger said Father Christmas is real, the AKB’s would believe him.
At least GS has woken up to this. Took 3 years though!
Try 6 instead lol
*Boom! Boom!*
To the article – not above comment BTW
No cast iron guarantees would be given to a 16 year old – that is utterly preposterous.
And a five game tryout to see if he’s any good as a striker? So Arsenal put everything else on hold – including our performance in the league – so a player, who hasn’t signed a contract extension by the way, can see if he’s any good at centre forward? Again, utterly preposterous.
Well said Sir.
Remember this is also a guy (Arteta) that took a pay cut to join us!
Legend in the making
huntercunt is gonna find that really confusing dude lol……………lol
lol you wallies cant even lay the grass properly in your national stadium (wembley) and you want to lecture arsene wenger over football and how to manage his club and coach his players ?
I LAUGH …..
If there is to be any experimentation up front, it will be done with Giroud, who has the attributes Theo doesn’t have to be a CF.
For Theo to thrive as a CF, he’ll need the same things he needs as a winger – a high-line defense that gives him space to run into. The only teams that give you that are naive ones (Blackpool, Southampton), or strong teams that intend to win, in which case you also need a strong defense, which Theo doesn’t give us.
I think Walcott has the potential to do quite well as the little ‘un in a “big ‘un and little ‘un” combo. Think how he’d go if partnered with an Andy Carroll. He has the qualities of a goal-poaching fox-in-the-box striker pouncer. It’s just too bad no one plays with one of those anymore.
I love Theo to bits, and I’d be sad to see him go. However, if it’s a choice between paying him > £75 squids a week for the next five years, and releasing him on a free, I’m in favour of letting him go. His main qualities are that he’s very fast and he’s a nice boy. We’ve already got some very fast players coming through the ranks, and we have a team full of nice boys. There’s no need to over-stock in those two qualities.
That said, if Theo was to sign a five year contract for the nominated fee, I’d be happy with that. At 23, there’s still time for him to add a few strings to his bow. And he seems like an intelligent lad, I’m sure he’ll develop greater footballing nous as the years roll on.
Lets give theo a chance to play as a center foward and sees how he performs, if gervinho was given a chance, i don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t give theo his own chance too.
As Wanadoo says, Wenger has told Walcott and the press for years that he would play up front eventually. It is now six years on from when he signed so actually the boy has every right to ask when he will ever get the chance up there.
For what it’s worth, I don’t think he has the strength or tactical know how to play as the main striker in this system, but perhaps Wenger should’ve told him that ages ago, instead of leading him on??
Cannot disagree with a single word of that article. As “likeable” as Theo maybe to a lot of people, would I respect his words or the words of a man who has transformed our club and nurtured and coached countless brilliant talents that would possibly have gone to waste? No points for guessing.
A lot of people saying “Oh Gervinho was given a chance there, so why shouldn’t Walcott?” It’s not as simple as kids comparing toys and going “Oh you got that one, I want it too”!!
Obviously Gervinho did things in training and in games that led Wenger to believe that he could be suited to a striking position. Wenger watches these guys EVERY day, unlike what we fans get to see.
He also did mention a couple of weeks ago that what he saw Gervinho doing in the pre-season game against City impressed him, which is why he opted again for the same.
Just think to yourself… In a tight space who do you think has a better chance of creating something? Quickness of feet? Trickery? All point to Gervinho. Which one points to Walcott? Speed. That’s it. He can make runs behind defences, but probably not a lot more.
THis is not to slag Theo off. He’s good at certain things. It’s just to say that we have to let a man who has coached footballers for a few million years to have the final say.
I’d believe him if he says he desires to play the main man role. (There’s no reason yet to think its untrue and to brand him as media savvy cunning man who made an elaborate plot to make sure he left on good terms if his contract wasn’t renewed). When Walcott signed for us, King Henry was in his prime. He idolized Henry (and maybe wanted to be just like him). For Walcott, his love of the game, the very reason he plays might be just that – doing the magic Henry did. For someone his age at 16, he might have dreamt big and with his pace and the initial hype surrounding him, he might have believed it too – that he was on his way to being a striker.
Also, if he’s asking for more money, he should be allowed to ask. We needn’t scoff at him as if he did something unspeakable. He’s been a faithful gunner all this time.
I don’t think you can compare theo with arteta or poldi. His attitude has never been a problem. Its unfair to compare him with someone who has seen lot of football in different parts of europe and has matured as a Man. Theo is still a kid.
Walcott hasn’t shown the composure or awareness needed of a striker. I’d never play him as striker. Its upto Wenger and the club how to handle him. I wouldn’t mind seeing Theo experimented as a striker in games like Conventry. Even Henry was a nobody at Theo’s age. Theo still has time to develop who knows he might just develop into the next Henry. And if the experiment fails, we can always sub him, while he continues playing as a winger in the important matches.
Regarding his wage bill, its totally upto the club. As such if Theo really means what he says, its not about the money.
The main thing though, is that he is still a Gunner, since almost 10 years he’s playing for Arsenal FC, don’t just write him off like that.
Great post. Arteta is pure class. We’re fortunate to have him. Wish I could say the same for Walcott.
Theo’s most convincing performance was on the bench. So that’s his best position for the team. That is all. Good night.
why are we even discussing this? Wenger is the manager and knows what all these players are capable of, so for a player to be dictating to his manager bcoz of his own ambition or desires as against the club’s is utter nonsense. like I said earlier Wenger knows best and have the final say.
apparently some “fans” believe that a 21 yearold should dictate to wenger the position he should play in.
hillarious….
not even ferguson is qualified to talk about wenger so how come these muppet fans think they can …….
when ferguson builds a stadium and keeps his team on a profit with constant participation in europe while playing with kids and battling out against teams that can spend four times what he can…then he can talk.
as for the little englanders who play fm and htink they can pass advise to wenger….one can only laugh
Oh well that clears that up then. Here was me thinking we didn’t sell Theo because no other club was interested in him, but it turns out it was ‘obviously’ the club’s decision to prevent the upheaval of it all?
I do like the way you analyse the comments of players like Van Persie and Walcott, and draw the conclusion that they’re talking bollocks and are only interested in money. More than likely you are right, I wouldn’t dispute money is a major part. When they talk about wanting to win trophies or play in a different position, such claims are discarded out of hand. You put it down to a well-rehearsed line or PR spin that the agents advise. Again, possibly right?
So from the experiences of Nasri, Fabregas and RVP not signing when Wenger said they would, I would expect that you’re finally beginning to realise that whatever Wenger says is total bollocks too? But no. You hardly ever take Wenger to task with some of the stuff that he’s come out with over the past years. And when you do pick him up, he’s always excused with a ‘what else could he say’ justification.
How about giving Walcott the same leeway? What else could he say in his predicament? No chance. All excuses are reserved for Wenger.
Good point Stevio about Wenger talking bollocks. As someone pointed out earlier, Wenger has always said that he sees Walcott as a central striker. All Theo is doing is reiterating that.
If Wenger has now seen in training that the kid ain’t ever going to make it as a striker, then why not tell him so and give him the chance of either signing a new deal with the understanding that he is a winger or just flog him / give him away at the end of the season.
That is what should happen with theo , you cannot give him five games to prove himself , in my opinion he should be on the bench and if chirad is not doing it by seventy minutes or does not look like doing it then bring walcott on as the central striker and I am not saying every time but give him the chance to stake that claim and lets be fair against tired legs at that time in the game if he really wants it he should be able to deliver …he is distinctly average as a winger and that’s not all the time sometimes he was absolutley awful .would like to see him get some time at the end of the game the way wenger tends to introduce the younger players with talent …he may see that as a step back or he could prove the majority of us wrong and seize the chance
As stated on another blog. What other top team would play him centrally AND
Pay him over 75? Answer is nobody
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