Theo - Still a boy in a man's world

[Magic Hat]

i never said i was happy with Eboue there either, its just we have been waiting for theo to burst on the scene but nothing is happening only flashes of what he can do he need to start showing it all the time. i know Mr Wenger is not helping his confidence with the team selection but why can he not produce the sort of football he plays when coming on as a sub

uh because he is 19? Look at the England U21 team, the only guy younger in the entire campaign has been Mattock and only be a few months. Would Mattock be playing regularly in the Prem? Not yet though think he has the potential to better then the Foxes. Theo gets better and better the more he plays for the U21's, for us he is still erratic.

I understand the whole his performances will be judged on how he performs rather then age but I wouldn't be too concerned if he isn't wowing people yet. He is 19 and has a long way to go so to suggest it's time he made a name for himself, he already has but he will be an even bigger name when he is older, got more strength and devolped as a 19 year should.

[Cockerill's chin]

Talk about reactionary. We're one game into the season and you lot are jumping on the back of a 19 year old.

WBA was not a good game for 6-7 of our lot but we bagged three points. Theo has got some developing to do and I'm glad he'll be doing it at the Arsenal.

It's mid August FFS, get a grip.

[Rob]

I think Walcott needs a lengthy (12 game ) run in the first team and we can judge him better by Christmas.

But the opening poster had a point - as well as a good name.

This "he's only 18/19 whatever", really is clutching at straws. How old was Rooney when he smacked a 35 yard volly in off the underside of Seaman's crossbar ? How old was /is Cesc ?

Basically if you have it sooner rather than later you deliver.

If you are all talk and no do - on the other hand....

[Magic Hat]

How old was Henry and Ian Wright when they became world class strikers?

Not every 16 year old has Rooney's build, I imagine if Walcott had his strength, he would be looking a lot better. Yes ok, Cesc played was a first teamer at 17 but if we are using that as a yardstick might as well release half the squad, dump the reserves and the U19's as well since none of them can clearly make it if they haven't by 17

[Radford149]

Last season we saw flashes of what the boy can do, most notably at Anfield in the CL, but once again on Saturday he contributed next to nothing, got shoved off the ball, made poor decisions, and looked at best a fringe player. On todays official website, it asks the question "can Walcott confuse Konchesky?"

Well, if he runs out with a Fulham shirt on - that will confuse him. If he decides to play bare foot - that will confuse him.

But if he stands out wide looking like little boy lost again, the experienced Fulham skin head full back will chew him up and spit him back out , and we will effectively be a man (and I mean a man) light.

I don't think we can carry the luxury of a Theo in a side as light in midfields we are. Agreed?

yes completely

[the_gooner89]

walcott i think can and will be as good as titi. We just need to get behind him and maybe wenger could do with playing him through the middle. The lad has pure talent. I cant believe that some of you are geting on his back.

[QuartzGooner]

Tallest Gooner - There is every point comparing Theo and Jay Simpson, as I said; same age, and same positions.

The comparison shows that Wenger feels Walcott is better than reserve football, whereas Simpson is still a reserve regular.
Theo is yet to be a first team automatic starting choice though, but he is working towards that.


Galasso - you say that because Theo is in first team squad he should be good enough, but the likes of Randall, Gavin Hoyte and Lansbury are in the squad too. They are too good for the reserves, but not yet good enough to start for the first team.
Better to have them train and learn with the first team, than stagnate in the reserves.

The game has changed from having a first team, and then a reserve squad who are not quite as good, such as we did 15 years ago.

It is now the top level players in the first team squad, and the reserves has become the place for youth players, and the odd first teamer recovering from injury.

One other point is that I bet Theo would look a lot better, if the other three midfielders were Vieira, Cesc and Pires, and the forwards were Bergkamp and Henry.

We are not linking as well as a team as in the past, because of so many changes in personnel and injury. The whole squad needs time to gel.


In my book Theo has until he is 23 to prove himself good enough for Arsenal.

If we kept Justin Hoyte until that age, we can certainly do the same for Theo.

[Cockerill's chin]

How old was Henry and Ian Wright when they became world class strikers?

Not every 16 year old has Rooney's build, I imagine if Walcott had his strength, he would be looking a lot better. Yes ok, Cesc played was a first teamer at 17 but if we are using that as a yardstick might as well release half the squad, dump the reserves and the U19's as well since none of them can clearly make it if they haven't by 17

Exactly.

Theo will develop into a fantastic player. But if he's bothering some of you after the first game of the season against WBA then he must be crap After all, he's 19 and should be established by now.

[Rob]

How old was Henry and Ian Wright when they became world class strikers?

Not every 16 year old has Rooney's build, I imagine if Walcott had his strength, he would be looking a lot better. Yes ok, Cesc played was a first teamer at 17 but if we are using that as a yardstick might as well release half the squad, dump the reserves and the U19's as well since none of them can clearly make it if they haven't by 17

Exactly.

Theo will develop into a fantastic player. But if he's bothering some of you after the first game of the season against WBA then he must be crap After all, he's 19 and should be established by now.

That evades the point.

Firstly I am not suggesting Walcott is no good. He undoubtedly has skill. But does he have application ? Does he want it ?

Since Wenger started - some four years back - on the 'great young' kick we've had a plethora of would be 'world conquering talent' who have 'promised' but in most cases - Cesc and Cliche apart - we are still waiting for delivery.


Take Senderous. When we signed him it was trumpeted across the world that we beat Liverpool, Inter and Bayern as well as the Mancs and here was the Swiss Tony Adams.

For the first 9 months he did look good. Then he met Drogba, collapsed in a heap and has never recovered since.

It' symptomatic of Wenger's whole outlook. A lot of style but not so much substance.

Plenty of second places and lately thirds and fourths but first place is starting to become a distant memory at any level.

That - FIRST PLACE - is what Arsenal is - or should be - about.

Rooney is undoubted exceptional but it's not surprising that he was snapped up by the Mancs as Ferguson worked out that the requisite combination of proven quality - Giggs, Scholes, Neville, Ferdinand - alligned to real 'young talent' (Rooney, Anderson, Ronaldo) is most likely to deliver EPL and CL titles.

[Rocky Fan]

He need games and more time, he has had time but not many games he will laern on the pitch and yes that means mistakes but we will have to be patient with him

[Cockerill's chin]

I agree with your second point Rob. The balance of our squad is far too weighted towards youth. Our transfer policy is shameful for a top club.

To equate Walcott to Senderos' development, however, is far too premature. Theo has shown plenty of potential and, in my eyes, his chances of developing that potential are strong. He seems very level headed and hasn't fallen victim to the English disease of attitude far outweighing ability. In fact, his attitude appears exemplary.

As for wanting it enough, I don't know where that accusation fits in to what we have seen of the lad. If Theo has a mental fault it is that he appears to think too much and self-analyse rather than play instinct football.

The three youngsters you highlighted from manure cost around £45 million, despite the PR bullshit from our board we don't have that money. I simply don't get how we can have a go at Theo now.

[QuartzGooner]

I agree with your second point Rob. The balance of our squad is far too weighted towards youth. Our transfer policy is shameful for a top club.

Our transfer policy is dictated by the temporary financial shackles imposed by paying for a new stadium.

[Cockerill's chin]

I know, the bullshit PR is dictated by arseholes, however.

[Magic Hat]

Now Rob that is a fair point but we can't tell who is going to make it and who isn't. Attitude and mental toughness are two reasons why good young players might not make it. Is Walcott tough enough mentally? We will see, I hope so as if he is a confidence player, that is going to be a right pain in the... Senderos has talent and even at 23, defenders are learning however think this is a major season for Senderos, if he can't break in this season and keep a place, I would certainly be thinking of moving, maybe abroad where his lack of pace won't be so easily exploited.

With the youngsters though, there is still another two or so seasons till I would expect the likes of Traore, Denilson and so on to have made the step up

[DB10GOONER]

IMO Theo is a bit of a confidence player. I think he needs a good run in the side, let the lad know he's first choice, offer it up to him and I feel he will deliver. He's shy off the pitch to a certain extent and I think he probably needs a confidence boost on it. Getting dropped after a good performance can really mess up a young player's mind and performance. I hope he makes it, because he seems like a decent, genuine lad.