Written by Wenger Boy on Wednesday, 13 April 2011 15:11

Hello fellow supporters of Arsenal Football Club. How are we today?

Unfortunately that question will have to remain temporarily unanswered as I am not at the moment able to hear your undoubtedly enthusiastic responses. For the purposes of continuing with this blog I will assume, therefore, that you are currently treading water in a post-Blackpool mixture of scepticism-tinged hope, caution-drenched optimism and Kroenke-induced uncertainty. It’s quite a wordy and specific assumption, unnecessarily overloaded with hyphens, but I’m going to stick with it and you can’t stop me.

I’m here on this day of days to discuss with you the fortunes of one Theodore Albatross-Jenkins McDoolan Augustus Walcott (think that’s right). He’s not always had it easy has old Theo – hyped up, brought back down to earth, hyped up again – and it’s fair to say he’s had to deal with quite a lot. But whatever you may think of his ability you cannot fault his hard work and application and I think that this year he honestly and truly has become one of the finest children’s book writers in the general North London area (tee hee).

In all seriousness however you many of you will probably look at the title of this post and think: ‘I haven’t forgotten about Theo Walcott! Short-ish lad, pacy, tends to scare slow defenders? Yeah I remember him. Plays for Arsenal, right?’. That’s fair enough, and in some ways you are right – it is quite unlikely that you have forgotten he exists. He is a fully paid up member of the exclusive Theo Van Nasregas quartet - the most popular kids at the club – and an essential part of our attacking force. So what do I mean when I say he is forgotten?

What I mean is that you have forgotten that you didn’t used to think that way. You have forgotten than since the day Theo Walcott arrived his ability has been called into serious question and you have forgotten that for the last few years there seemed to be a lingering, worrying and very real possibility that he might not cut it at Arsenal.

You have forgotten that you doubted him and now that you don’t you have forgotten to praise him for that fact.

Because ever since the time of the Chelsea and Wigan games in December Theo Walcott has been included in the holy ‘starting 11’, and that decision has not really been called into question since. Those two games defined more than anything else our team for the remainder of our season since they created a perceptible, if imaginary, line between the those considered to be in the A team – and their strengths -  and those considered to be in the B team – and their weaknesses. A fantastic A team win over Chelsea was followed immediately by a disappointing B team draw against Wigan (and subsequently by a comprehensive victory by the A team over Birmingham) and thereafter Arshavin was relegated to the B team (while everyone else was fit) and Walcott was promoted to the A team. And the people did rejoice.

It’s funny that really. One of our most expensive signings ever is replaced in the first team by a player with no football brain and people were happy about it.

But the main story there was of course Arshavin - that he wasn’t as good as he had been and that he was struggling for form and look lazy - and in all probability that was the primary catalyst. Arshavin is a much more naturally gifted player than Walcott and he has an ability to make something out of nothing that almost no-one in our team has and were he to be on top form consistently he would stroll casually into most teams in the world, including ours.

But the forgotten flipside of the story is that Walcott was doing a pretty damn good job this season. 7 goals and 7 assists in 13 starts (+8 sub) in the league and 11 goals overall is easily his best ever return at the club and the season has still got seven games to go. Again you might point to his injuries as a cause for concern – which they are, but then so are Van Persie’s, Fabregas’ etc –but when he is fit you cannot fault his productivity and that is a massive, massive change from seasons past.

Again, much like Van Persie, it’s become a case of ‘if only he stayed fit’ because a whole season of these sorts of figures would in all likelihood brought us a fair few extra points. It isn’t a foolproof way to measure things but a quick extrapolation from the data above and you are talking about something like 15 goals and 15 assists for the season which is close to someone like Nani who many believe deserves the player of the season award.

But if this is the case then why are we not dousing him in praise the same way did Nasri for going through purple patch earlier in the season? Nasri only has 9 goals and 1 assist in 23 starts (+2 sub) in the league and yet he is being talked about as a contender for player of the season, even above Nani.

The truth is that it is precisely because of events such Nasri’s rise that Walcott’s success has gone so unnoticed. There have been too many subplots this season and from the fans’ and the media’s perspective the Walcott story hasn’t really taken off.

Nasri’s rise, Van Persie’s return, Arshavin’s form, Arsenal’s defence, Arsenal’s goalkeeper. These are all stories which have come into play at various points throughout the season and basically cover all of bases in terms of our form and the reasons that can be given for it. Good times: Nasri, Van Persie; bad times: Arshavin, defence, goalkeeper. These are the narratives that came into play this season and these are the ones which are most closely followed, discussed, rehashed and re-released.

Theo Van Nasregas is a story which was important among a fair amount of Arsenal fans but even here he is just one part of a larger whole and not really the focus. Through praising T V N we have been praising  him, but only indirectly, and almost, therefore, unknowingly since we are praising a collective entity without talking about individuals.

But I feel the main reason for all of this forgetfulness is that Walcott is no longer the English golden boy, either for Arsenal or for the national team. That accolade has been taken by a Mr Jack Wilshere and this has completely overshadowed Walcott’s accomplishments. A few mediocre performances for England coupled with some impressive ones for Jackie Boy and suddenly the pressure is completely off of one and straight on the other.

Never mind that Theo’s statistical contribution has been significantly higher than Jack’s this season, or that he is achieving this at what is still a very young age. The national press have now forgotten about him and since fans often derive their opinions from the press they have forgotten about him too. Jack is now Arsenal’s English wunderkind and Walcott is just another player in the team.

Thanks goodness.

Perhaps this release of pressure is what has helped Theo to produce as he has. Maybe being forgotten has given him the breathing space to push on at his own pace. Who knows? Either way I think Theo has done tremendously well this season and I am now allowing myself to get a wee bit excited about what he too may be like next season or the season after.

Up until now this excitement has, in all honesty, been steadily decreasing since virtually the first moment he signed for Arsenal. As I documented in one of my first pieces for this site, The Ballad of Theo Walcott (thanks in advance for the link ML), Walcott’s career has been a series of false dawns, and like Arsenal themselves each of these serves to chip away at your confidence just a little, the cumulative effect of which eventually proving significant.

But you have to credit Theo for just getting on with it and fighting for his place. Theo 2011 is bigger and stronger (he has definitely bulked up) with better decision-making and a far greater understanding of how to use his pace to full effect. His crossing and passing have improved and his finishing has often been outstanding. The difference between now and then is that when Theo shoots you expect him to hit the target. His goals against Newcastle and especially against Shakhtar were beautiful and his hat-trick earlier in the season was superb.  He makes a genuine difference when he comes on and we all love him for it.

No he’s not perfect. No he’s not the best player in the world (Bale, obviously). No he’s not our saviour. But he is effective and he is improving and we can’t really ask for more than that. Perhaps just an injury-free season, although he does play for Arsenal so a half-season of football is a Christmas present in itself.

I just find it very amusing that almost as soon as Walcott starts doing well he fades almost completely into the background. I suppose that’s just the fickle nature of football.

I do however believe that forgotten though he is he shouldn’t be ignored and the time has come to give at least some praise where at least some praise is due.

Here’s to Theo Walcott, the second Englishman of Arsenal FC.

WB

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Comments (13)

• 13-Apr-2011 15:29 | | Jacob  - YOu ain't a gooner
  

  well you are some sick Man-U fan, there is no relevance of your article at all.

• 13-Apr-2011 15:38 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Thanks for your comment but I'm afraid I do not understand it. Could you please explain?

• 13-Apr-2011 15:48 | | MeanLean
  

  Yup, lost on that one also

• 13-Apr-2011 15:50 | | Tom
  

  Walcott has had a solid season. His first few years were very difficult due to injuries, youth and a lack of consistency.
  
  He's nowhere near the finished article but he's far more effective and has performed consistently (when fit) across the season. I would like to see him attack the 6 yard box more often when we get the ball in wide positions, but his all round forward play should improve with time.

• 13-Apr-2011 15:54 | | MeanLean
  

  Nice piece WB, reading this on the bus so the link will have to go on later. Totally agree with what you say. Alex Song, Samir Nasri and RVP can be viewed as forgotten men to some respect.
  
  I have learnt not to fully judge a player until he has developed seen too many players turn it around in the past.
  
  I really think that Theo will become ridiculously good in time. He is so important as he is often the only player running away from the ball.
  
  I wonder what the odds are of Theo becoming next seasons player of the year. Hmmm *scratches hair on chin*

• 13-Apr-2011 17:26 | | Sid
  

  Walcott is living on borrowed time. An average player over-hyped by pillocks like you who churn out this rubbish.

• 13-Apr-2011 17:45 | | MeanLean
  

  You need to back up your point otherwise your argument looks weak. Wenger boy has provided you with stats that would say otherwise.

• 13-Apr-2011 18:01 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Always nice to enter into an adult debate with open-minded people. Would be nice though if, as Mean Lean rightly says, you could provide some sort of substance for your claim.
  
  I would back up my own argument but everything you need is in the article above so I won't waste my time.

• 13-Apr-2011 18:11 | | lewis
  

  Like you said, I was reading thinking 'I haven't forgotton about TW14 at all' etc etc.
  I really enjoyed the piece, obviously opther didn't and that is their loss.
  
  Him and Vela are the 2 most clinical finishers at the club clsely followed by RvP. Theo is definately developing well and started the season on fire. The thing with todays game is, if your at a top team and aint a world beater at 21 your thrown on the scrao heap...not everone becomes a Fabredas/Wilshire at such a young age. Even previous 'great arsenal players' haven;t been the dog testies untul later in their life when they have matured. Theo at 23/24 will be a demon, Jack will assist Walcott with over 100 goals in the next 10years....have to stop thinking like that or I will get too excited.
  
  PS and off topic, I miss a textbook freekick taker like TH14 / DB10, that position is there for the taking at arsenal. Van Nasregas are ok but erratic at times and obviouslt Theo aint no specialist. I can;t remember many goals in the last few years where someone tucked it away from a dead ball situation.
  
  Any thoughts?

• 13-Apr-2011 20:03 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Thanks so much for your comments Lewis. Not just because you liked the piece but also because you actually had something to say.
  
  Couldn't agree more about the free kick taker. Van P is the man really but he hasn't found his range at all in the last few seasons. He also hits the woodwork way too often. I can't see any replacements as yet but you'd think someone would have the ability in a squad like ours.
  
  In summary then I'm as stumped as you!

• 14-Apr-2011 18:17 | | Evadztif
  

  Hi Lads, I'm exactly the same as yourselves - haven't forgotten about him but Jack has drawn attention away - the first thing that strikes me about Theo is that he is genuinely improving - which is all you can ask, other depts of the team are showing less signs of this ie. GC23 's crossing. As you said his crossing has definitely improved as has his physique - te Chelsea game has also shown he can run world class defenders down and scare them - next step is being able to affect a game for 90 minutes and again age will bring this....I also like his demeanour and interviews after games - always well spoken and considered and respectful - Jack is the same and maybe he has picked this up from Theo - here's hoping he can put together 40-50 games next season and show us all what he is made of maybe the next TH14 is not too far away!!!

• 14-Apr-2011 21:35 | | Rambo
  

  i wrote an article here way back about theo, and weather last year was going to be his break through. and it is true, its kind of happened this year. i think sceptical arsenal fans will need a whole season of performances and in this case, i do think the sceptics are right. whatever theo has done this year has been masked by injury and arsenals inability to keep the chase going at the business end of the season.

• 15-Apr-2011 17:59 | | Man United Killa  - Was never a fan of Walcott
  

  I had never been a fan of Walcott but I think,just like we would like to be given credit where we deserve it,Walcott feels the same way.
  He has done great.though he can get better.But you have to give him credit.Last season he single handedly brought us from 2-0 down at home to Barca to 2-2.This season he has done fantastic.
  His final ball is still a bit suspect sometimes but we dont have a more threatening winger.No doubt!

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