THEO

[REB]

is this is the year he finally shows us he will be good enough to be a regular starter in the first 11


or his last season in an arsenal shirt before we sell him to villa/west ham/ everton

[TeeCee]

Yes

[IW8Goalmachine]

I hope its the season he becomes the player we want but i feel it's unlikely. I always felt as if Wenger just went on an impulse when buying him

[franksav63]

He'll never be good enough to start, he's an impact sub at best.

I reckon it's his last season here, make or break, which will be a break...

He's had a break from the international scene, and still looks shit in the friendlies he's played, against pretty much average (and sometimes below average) opposition.

[mrgnu1958]

he cant cross a ball

[nino_rojo]

What are our other options in that position though currently? I think Theo is the most dangerous and from pre-season I think he's improved. I still cringe whenever he gets the ball because Id rather he did nothing than something shit lol. But I felt that he proved during the Emirates Cup that he is improving, and with that pace all he needs is to sort his crossing out.

[rigsby]

I think impact sub atm, but imo Theo will never be the player he can be if he's constantly played out wide. Put him through the middle and then we'll see if he can be THAT player. Or if he is out wide he should cut in not go on the outside and cross, because he's not a natural winger and even natural wingers sometimes struggle to cross so what chance does Theo have?

I'ld just like to see him play for us how he did that night against Croatia, and by that I mean playing in that position of having someone hold the ball up, and Theo buzzing about.

[cusamano]

This will be his last season at the club.
This guy has no balls and can´t cross a ball, even less score

[merson_is_god]

Impact sub...just like Kanu...or Solskjaer!

[QuartzGooner]

I think he will be a useful impact sub.

Better work will be as a more central forward, rather than a winger type player.

His first touch is irregular, his control erratic, but he puts the opposition onto the back foot and sometimes they put two defenders on him, freeing up space for our other players to use.

He had a poor game for us when he was pushed too far forward and too wide simultaneously, which was Old Trafford in the Champions League 2009. Evra had him covered.

For me, Theo's better work has come when he is a few yards more central, running at defenders and shooting early, such as this goal versus Birmingham. He can be a useful resource as a sub against teams who attack us, in a way I think he will be more use in away games and big games at home, rather than against the Boltons and Spurs' of this world who come to our ground and play defensively for a draw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Ld3ncdklA

[mrgnu1958]

Hes just not suited to how we play..SIMPLES!

[Its Up 4 Grabs Now]

I think impact sub atm, but imo Theo will never be the player he can be if he's constantly played out wide. Put him through the middle and then we'll see if he can be THAT player. Or if he is out wide he should cut in not go on the outside and cross, because he's not a natural winger and even natural wingers sometimes struggle to cross so what chance does Theo have?

I'ld just like to see him play for us how he did that night against Croatia, and by that I mean playing in that position of having someone hold the ball up, and Theo buzzing about.

No offence but I just don’t get this logic that cos he’s not a “natural wingerâ€

[nino_rojo]

I think he will be a useful impact sub.

Better work will be as a more central forward, rather than a winger type player.

His first touch is irregular, his control erratic, but he puts the opposition onto the back foot and sometimes they put two defenders on him, freeing up space for our other players to use.

He had a poor game for us when he was pushed too far forward and too wide simultaneously, which was Old Trafford in the Champions League 2009. Evra had him covered.

For me, Theo's better work has come when he is a few yards more central, running at defenders and shooting early, such as this goal versus Birmingham. He can be a useful resource as a sub against teams who attack us, in a way I think he will be more use in away games and big games at home, rather than against the Boltons and Spurs' of this world who come to our ground and play defensively for a draw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1Ld3ncdklA

Great example of how he can perform in the right situation, adn goes back to the thread about counter-attacking. Quick ball up from deep latched onto by Theo, and with that speed running at the defense they had no time to regroup. As you mention, straight through the middle and early strike. Good finish too.

[paperclip]

I think that if he was going to become any more than an average player, he would have done so by now. I'd hope that this season is his last, because I don't know how much more of this I can take.

[Rob]

He'll be 22 at the start of next year so the "he's a boy...." approach seems a bit hackneyed to me.

Basically it's now or never for him.

He's got to get fit, stay fit and fight for his place. He still could come good and inspite of the fact that he was cack last year, I really want him to come up to scratch.

But if he gives a repeat of last season, then he will have little credibility left. And it would help if he forgot the INGERLUND fixatiion in his tiny mind, not to mention the OK Mag photoshoots and the Nike ads.

Try playing your heart out for Arsenal and nothing else. Then it might happen.