WALCOTT - which position is best etc?

[markyp]

WALCOTT HAS THE MOST ASSISTS IN THE EPL SINCE AUGUST 2011,THOSE SORT OF STATS DONT LIE

but what does that stat tell you? getting assists at Arsenal with our style of play is relatively easy

but he misses huge chunks of each season,it makes it even more impressive,also he was our top scorer last season,i just don't get the 'hes shoite' view,frustrating at times yes but never shite.if Walcott was playing for utd,chavski or city we 'd be moaning that we never buy players like him,i admit he hasn't blossomed like we'd hoped but ive said it before and I will say it again at the business end of the pitch Wally delivers.

[Cockerill's chin]

Why is getting assists easy at Arsenal

Is it because we are blessed with natural finishers? Or is it because teams don't shut up shop against us and park the bus? Finding assists is difficult for Arsenal and often requires something a bit more than a Stoke hoof up the pitch to unlock a ten man defensive line.

[augie]

Why is getting assists easy at Arsenal

Is it because we are blessed with natural finishers? Or is it because teams don't shut up shop against us and park the bus? Finding assists is difficult for Arsenal and often requires something a bit more than a Stoke hoof up the pitch to unlock a ten man defensive line.

1. Because as a rule we dominate possession therefore each player has more touches of the ball

2. Because we have players like ozil and cazorla who command most of the opposition attention thus allowing players like wally more freedom

3. Because we have more midfield attacking runners (ramsey, cazorla, ozil, podolski when fit) getting into the box with giroud thus reducing the need for pin point accuracy when crossing - in other words, if he beats the man at the near post then he has a fair chance one of his attacking midfielders will be in the right vicinity

All those reasons I have listed above does not completely explain his positive stats cos there is no doubt that he has improved (although I still believe that his crossing is too hit and miss) and his finishing especially has improved, but to read your post it suggests that wally is some kind of world class platini like creator and I think that we both know that is a million miles away from reality

[Cockerill's chin]

Not unusually Augie, I completely disagree when it comes to Walcott. (Except for the part that Walcott is a world class creator!). I view him for what he is: a very effective winger.

Although we dominate possession, we tend to create very little with it (Old Trafford?). Having players who can unlock a defence, either with pace (Walcott) or guile (Ozil) is massive for us. The games where we keep their keeper very busy seem few and far between.

Picking out the midfield runners into a crowded last third seems incredibly difficult rather than easy. Often when Walcott is in a position to cross it is on the counter and his pace means there aren't many targets in the box. Suggesting his crosses reach an unintended target is typical of the credit you give the guy.

Theo must have played about 5 games with Ozil so I can't see how it detracts from the value of his assists. Opposition seem to respect the threat Walcott offers, even if you don't so I think suggesting they are pre-occupied with Cazorla and co giving Walcott free space is not accurate. The only time Walcott finds himself in space is when he is running in between or behind the back four by virtue of his pace rather than being ignored.

Having said that, I get frustrated by Walcott's injury record. He needs to give us a solid season to justify 100k. I also get frustrated by his attitude sometimes. I get the impression he values England too highly over Arsenal and he needs to be a bit more public (like Rooney does) about appreciating where his bread is buttered.

[beck]

Impact sub still for me - I love these guys that posts stats and use them as their bible but I still go on what I see with my own eyes. Some continually claim that he should be played at centre forward but fcuk knows what they are basing that on cos he has never really played there except for a few mins here and there - I actually seen him brought on as a striker against brum a few seasons ago and they dropped off leaving no space behind and he didnt know what to do or where to run

It is easy to say that wally (or whoever) has the best assists record if they are playing for a big club that see's more of the ball - I look at the amount of time that his crosses dont beat the first man and for a player of his stature, that is woeful Another huge no no for me is his lazy half arsed attitude to providing protection to the full back behind him - part of the problem without doubt is the system and the freedom that wenker grants the players (total football my arse ) but a large part of it is also selfishness in that he is thinking of himself rather than the team (he is far from alone in that regard ). If the decision was up to me then I would pick the ox ahead of him tbh - the ox has shown more to his game and also appears to have a boundless supply of energy and work ethic and the team should always be prioritised over the individual imo


All that being said, I do see some signs of improvement so maybe he is slowly coming good

walcott has never come on as a sub against birmingham
he did score 2 there in the 07/08 season though

[augie]

Impact sub still for me - I love these guys that posts stats and use them as their bible but I still go on what I see with my own eyes. Some continually claim that he should be played at centre forward but fcuk knows what they are basing that on cos he has never really played there except for a few mins here and there - I actually seen him brought on as a striker against brum a few seasons ago and they dropped off leaving no space behind and he didnt know what to do or where to run

It is easy to say that wally (or whoever) has the best assists record if they are playing for a big club that see's more of the ball - I look at the amount of time that his crosses dont beat the first man and for a player of his stature, that is woeful Another huge no no for me is his lazy half arsed attitude to providing protection to the full back behind him - part of the problem without doubt is the system and the freedom that wenker grants the players (total football my arse ) but a large part of it is also selfishness in that he is thinking of himself rather than the team (he is far from alone in that regard ). If the decision was up to me then I would pick the ox ahead of him tbh - the ox has shown more to his game and also appears to have a boundless supply of energy and work ethic and the team should always be prioritised over the individual imo


All that being said, I do see some signs of improvement so maybe he is slowly coming good

walcott has never come on as a sub against birmingham
he did score 2 there in the 07/08 season though

Match I was talking about was in the grove - maybe he wasn't brought on but he was pushed into centre forward for last 20mins for definite

[northbank123]

Everybody (myself included) has a go at analysing Walcott and where his contributions can be maximised etc.

The reality is going into any given game it's impossible to predict whether he is going to be a constant thorn in their side or completely fucking useless, regardless of whether we're playing Man City or Hull.

[SteveO 35]

Walcott always gives the Chavs something to think about and has largely done well against them. Hope he starts tonight.

[Chippy]

I think he became a legend tonight. A seminal moment for him and many gooners.

[armchair]

I think he became a legend tonight. A seminal moment for him and many gooners.

Yep. Certaintly a seminal moment for me tonight as Im not afraid to confess I ejaculated just a little in my new Christmas spongebob boxers when Santis shot flew in after Gnabrys exquisite pass...

[SPUDMASHER]

It would appear that his best position is on a stretcher in front of their "fans"

[armchair]

It would appear that his best position is on a stretcher in front of their "fans"

After this post I think we can safely close this thread.......

[Steve_I]

It would appear that his best position is on a stretcher in front of their "fans"

After this post I think we can safely close this thread.......

lol sir, I think for once, I agree with you. lol

[Chippy]

I love this forum!

[augie]

Today I thought that Wally worked hard for the team but I still believe that he is a million miles away from being able to play the position on a regular basis. What he did in this game was perpetual movement which was never going to suit a carthorse like dawson He did have a couple of half chances which he should have at least hit the target from but he sacrificed himself for the team today and gets a thumbs up from me for it