As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
TBH I'd be amazed if he makes it as a top player. Not a slight on him or his ability, but rather we all know what Wenger will do to him - he will "coach" the adventure, the hunger and the individuality out of him.
You know, a lot of people forget what the Ox and Walcott were actually like when we signed them from the Saints. Both were pacey, exciting, adventurous young players that loved to bomb forward, dribble, cut in and shoot, take oppo players on... fast forward a few years and both had become tepid, insular, negative, short-passing drones with no sense of adventure - the typical Arsene Wenger Modern Arsenal footballer in fact.
You have fonder memories of Theo than most.He was shit at dribbling from the off, his terrible first touch, second and third touch usually meant that a dribble was always on the verge of ending badly, overrun the ball or just fall over..He rarely seemed to be in total control of the ball. Can blame Wenger for an awful lot but don't think Theo was ever goin to make a top player.Signing him was probably the big mistake.
I'd say you have let the modern Feo influence your memory tbh. We'll never know how good he might have turned out at another club with another manager. His touch was fine for a youth player and should have improved with proper drills and coaching. It didn't and if anything he is less a player now than he was then. All I'm saying is as a kid he was adventurous, and had the potential to develop that raw talent into something better than the last 10+ years at Arsenal have delivered. The same with the Ox. Both had that potential early on and both ended up being unadventurous, poor quality players. Since Cashley Asshole our youth set up has delivered zero top quality players.
TBH I'd be amazed if he makes it as a top player. Not a slight on him or his ability, but rather we all know what Wenger will do to him - he will "coach" the adventure, the hunger and the individuality out of him.
You know, a lot of people forget what the Ox and Walcott were actually like when we signed them from the Saints. Both were pacey, exciting, adventurous young players that loved to bomb forward, dribble, cut in and shoot, take oppo players on... fast forward a few years and both had become tepid, insular, negative, short-passing drones with no sense of adventure - the typical Arsene Wenger Modern Arsenal footballer in fact.
You have fonder memories of Theo than most.He was shit at dribbling from the off, his terrible first touch, second and third touch usually meant that a dribble was always on the verge of ending badly, overrun the ball or just fall over..He rarely seemed to be in total control of the ball. Can blame Wenger for an awful lot but don't think Theo was ever goin to make a top player.Signing him was probably the big mistake.
I'd say you have let the modern Feo influence your memory tbh. We'll never know how good he might have turned out at another club with another manager. His touch was fine for a youth player and should have improved with proper drills and coaching. It didn't and if anything he is less a player now than he was then. All I'm saying is as a kid he was adventurous, and had the potential to develop that raw talent into something better than the last 10+ years at Arsenal have delivered. The same with the Ox. Both had that potential early on and both ended up being unadventurous, poor quality players. Since Cashley Asshole our youth set up has delivered zero top quality players.
Same is happening with Bellerin a good prospect goes backwards, we were fending off barca after his first season, now he he is a liability, can't cross, shoot, and constantly out of position
A 4 th goal now for Eddie as England under 19's beat the Faroe Islands in a Euro qualifier in bulgaria
Good luck to the lad. If he makes it to the very top it'll be in spite of Wenger not because of him.
Don't forget that Theo Walcott scored a hat trick in late 2008 (I think) against Croatia in a world cup qualifier. And Walcott epitomises the latter half of Wenger's reign, where players are allowed to coast along on huge salaries.
A 4 th goal now for Eddie as England under 19's beat the Faroe Islands in a Euro qualifier in bulgaria
Good luck to the lad. If he makes it to the very top it'll be in spite of Wenger not because of him.
Don't forget that Theo Walcott scored a hat trick in late 2008 (I think) against Croatia in a world cup qualifier. And Walcott epitomises the latter half of Wenger's reign, where players are allowed to coast along on huge salaries.
This thread does raise a good question. Why on earth did we let Chelsea sign all the young talent while its Arsenal which gives the young ones the chance to progress.
Surely if you knew Abramovich could out bid you on any quality player you would look to your youth system to bring in tomorrow's star player.
What actually happened is Chelsea signed up most of the promising talent. We only got Nketiah because he is short.
sorry
