Walcott will be Played as a Striker for Arsenal

Theo Walcott has held conversations with his Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger about his playing position at the club, with the outcome held in positive regard by the young English attacker.

According to Walcott, he has been promised a chance to move into a central role of the Arsenal attack, rather than being stuck out on the wing feeling that his talents are "wasted." Known for his blistering pace, most have come to seen Walcott as a winger since his move to Arsenal in 2006. However it is clear for all to see that the wing is not where the 22 year-olds' talent lies.

His delivery is poor, and often seems to run faster than he can think. He rarely takes advantage of one on one situations with the full-back, and is hesitant at big opportunities which natural wingers would take full advantage of. He has had several impressive performances for club and country, but clearly feels more would occur on a regular basis if he were to be played up-front. He told the official Arsenal website:

"I had a meeting with the boss and explained my point of view. He knew the conversation would come up and was very happy to talk about it."

"He says he’ll give me a chance there at the right time, and I’m dying for it to happen – but he knows exactly what he is doing and obviously I trust him."

"I believe I can give so much more to the team playing up front, with the runs I can make off the ball, and I just love hitting the back of the net as well."

"At times I feel a bit, if not wasted, then in and out of games on the right. I just want it more and more, having scored a few last season - I’m not a winger and I think plenty of people know that. I’ve done OK out there but I’d love to play down the middle."

"So much more" is exactly what Arsenal need right now as they sit just above the relegation places five games into the new season with only four points. With Robin van Persie a starter when fit, and the arrivals of Gervinho and Park, Walcott will encounter tough competition for a forward position, but he seems confident in his goalscoring ability, with three goals already this season.

He may be heavily criticized by many football fans who see no natural footballing brain present, Walcott can take huge comfort from how Lionel Messi described him when he was not included in England's 2010 World Cup squad. The Argentinian, thought of as the very best attacker in the world said:

 "I can only speak from experience but he was one of the most dangerous players I have ever played against."

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Theo Walcott shows Improvement in Carling Cup Win

A 4 - 0 win for Arsenal in the Carling Cup against Newcastle saw Theo Walcott score two good goals which required calmness and composure in front of the opposition goalkeeper. The goals also required his blistering pace, as well as the ability to hold his run to stay onside. His goals helped to create a confidence for Arsenal to go on and win the game very comfortably with a young team, as well as giving him the confidence he needs to score similar goals in the future.

A footballing brain is something that Theo Walcott has been criticized for not having. He has been heavily scrutinized by critics who say that he doesn't know what to do with the ball in the final third of the field - an area in which he should be oozing with quality considering the very attacking position he plays. However, against Newcastle, he showed great improvement. They may not have had their first choice defenders in the team, but Walcott waltzed through the Newcastle back line, chasing through balls from his team-mates who know that the England International is willing to run.


The two goals he scored were very clinical. He needed to keep calm and out-wit the out-rushing goalkeeper. He did that, and after picking his spot, made sure the ball rippled the back of the net with a nice dink over the goalkeeper in the first instance, and then powerfully side-footing in the second. His role against Newcastle was a much more central role than what he normally plays, which is probably why he got those one-on-one chances against the goalkeeper. But he showed that he is capable of scoring goals under pressure in that position, and now all he has to do in master crossing the ball.

He has the pace, and now he has the composure, but out on the right wing, when strikers are hungry for a delicious cross into the box, the winger has to deliver. Walcott finds it hard to find the right man with his crosses, which can frustrate the fans as well as the waiting strikers. He must improve. More hours practising on the training ground, persistence and hard work - whatever it takes, because it is this feature of his game (as well as other small factors) that makes him a good player with potential rather than a great player with quality.