Theo - Still a boy in a man's world

[Lord Peter of Highbury]

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?

[Magic Hat]

He is a squad player who can be devastating when his confidence is up, would rather have him out right then Eboue for this game as long considering we have Sagna at rightback.

Depends who we have fit though for how much we need or don't need Walcott for this one

[donaldo]

Theo needs an extended run in the team.Last season Wenger destroyed his confidence by continuing to play Eboue in front of him.Theo will come good IF he is given his chance.We have only played one game and ypu want him dropped

[DavrosG]

The standard says silvestre centre back toure holding mid eboue wing which probably means nasri isnt going to make the start.

[IW8Goalmachine]

my patience is running on poor theo its time he stood up and made a name for himself if we had went on to beat liverpool last year he might be a different player today

[donaldo]

my patience is running on poor theo its time he stood up and made a name for himself if we had went on to beat liverpool last year he might be a different player today

So who would you play out on the right wing?Theo or a player who last season contributed just one assist.

[QuartzGooner]

my patience is running on poor theo its time he stood up and made a name for himself if we had went on to beat liverpool last year he might be a different player today

Fact: Walcott is 19.

Do any of us expect as much from Jay Simpson (same age ,same positions) as we do from Walcott? NO.

When Walcott is 21, he will start proper strength training at Arsenal.
Wenger does not let the under 21's do much of this work, as they are still growing.

Let us judge Walcott in the 2010-2011 season, when he will have a stronger physique and greater sped.

He will still only be 21!

[dennis_10]

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?

Ugh.. If I even hear the words Theo and Anfield in the same sentence, a deep depression suddenly reappears

I think we should take our cue from Arsene, he keeps having to say, over and over again, that Theo Walcott will take time to develop. The comparisons Theo will draw this season will be with Titi, but remember that Henry played on the wing for club and country at the highest level before he joined Arsenal. We must also accept the education that Dr Wenger is giving Theo, he has to make mistakes in this position in order to improve his awareness overall, but he is already as good a winger as you'll find in the league.

Theo is already a bewildering prospect for most defenders- we'll find out on Saturday whether Konchesky will "chew him up", the very thought makes me chuckle!

[IW8Goalmachine]

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

[dennis_10]

The standard says silvestre centre back toure holding mid eboue wing which probably means nasri isnt going to make the start.

If the Standard think that Eboue is a better winger than Nasri, then good luck to them.

[Galasso]

my patience is running on poor theo its time he stood up and made a name for himself if we had went on to beat liverpool last year he might be a different player today

Fact: Walcott is 19.

Do any of us expect as much from Jay Simpson (same age ,same positions) as we do from Walcott? NO.

When Walcott is 21, he will start proper strength training at Arsenal.
Wenger does not let the under 21's do much of this work, as they are still growing.

Let us judge Walcott in the 2010-2011 season, when he will have a stronger physique and greater sped.

He will still only be 21!

Fact is he is a member of the first team squad and he will be judged as such. If he isn't strong enough to play week in week out then don't play him.

If he does play, then he deserves judgment based upon his performances.

It would be a different story if he had come into the side in 2003 but he didn't and AW has chosen to have such a young squad nobody else.

And Jay Simpson I am sure is not recognised as having the talent that Walcott does so nobody would expect anything like that from him.

[dennis_10]

my patience is running on poor theo its time he stood up and made a name for himself if we had went on to beat liverpool last year he might be a different player today

Fact: Walcott is 19.

Do any of us expect as much from Jay Simpson (same age ,same positions) as we do from Walcott? NO.

When Walcott is 21, he will start proper strength training at Arsenal.
Wenger does not let the under 21's do much of this work, as they are still growing.

Let us judge Walcott in the 2010-2011 season, when he will have a stronger physique and greater sped.

He will still only be 21!

Fact is he is a member of the first team squad and he will be judged as such. If he isn't strong enough to play week in week out then don't play him.

If he does play, then he deserves judgment based upon his performances.

It would be a different story if he had come into the side in 2003 but he didn't and AW has chosen to have such a young squad nobody else.

And Jay Simpson I am sure is not recognised as having the talent that Walcott does so nobody would expect anything like that from him.

lord o' mercy, that's the flipping point. Simpson isn't good enough to get into the first XI and Theo Walcott is!!!! I really don't understand this lack of patience, we might of beaten Liverpool, we might of won the league, might might might!!! Take a reality check, please. Theo didn't lose us the liverpool match, he won us the Milan game, he didn't lose us the Birmingham game, he scored twice and stepped up when everyone else wilted. The boy has bottle. People only looking for faults, it's so boring. UP THE GUNNERS!

[Magic Merse]

Walcott dosn't contribute as much as other's but there is only one way that this will change and that is by playing him. I think we do have a strong enough side to 'carry' him, espcially in these opening games. I would expect eboue to be back on the right though when we start playing the bigger teams. Not that that makes me happy, that's just what i think will happen.

[Tallest gooner]

I think theo needs time to develop in his body,(size and strength). To be honest comparing theo and simpson is well off the mark.

His run at anfield last year just came to late in my opion would have been nice to give him 5-7 games after that. No1 mentioned his 2 great goals at brum because they were overshadowed by eduardo and willy g, but 1 pouchers finsh and a goal that any prem striker/winger would have been proud off.

Give him time and he will flourish!!!!

[IW8Goalmachine]

my patience is running on poor theo its time he stood up and made a name for himself if we had went on to beat liverpool last year he might be a different player today

Fact: Walcott is 19.

Do any of us expect as much from Jay Simpson (same age ,same positions) as we do from Walcott? NO.

When Walcott is 21, he will start proper strength training at Arsenal.
Wenger does not let the under 21's do much of this work, as they are still growing.

Let us judge Walcott in the 2010-2011 season, when he will have a stronger physique and greater sped.

He will still only be 21!

Fact is he is a member of the first team squad and he will be judged as such. If he isn't strong enough to play week in week out then don't play him.

If he does play, then he deserves judgment based upon his performances.

It would be a different story if he had come into the side in 2003 but he didn't and AW has chosen to have such a young squad nobody else.

And Jay Simpson I am sure is not recognised as having the talent that Walcott does so nobody would expect anything like that from him.

lord o' mercy, that's the flipping point. Simpson isn't good enough to get into the first XI and Theo Walcott is!!!! I really don't understand this lack of patience, we might of beaten Liverpool, we might of won the league, might might might!!! Take a reality check, please. Theo didn't lose us the liverpool match, he won us the Milan game, he didn't lose us the Birmingham game, he scored twice and stepped up when everyone else wilted. The boy has bottle. People only looking for faults, it's so boring. UP THE GUNNERS!

where did you get the part about blaming theo for the liverpool game? thats not whats been said. he is a first team player now so the whole age thing cannot be an excuse. why im losing patience is because he is making the same mistakes he was making last year and i'm not looking for faults i was delighted to see him skin players at liverpool and score two great goals against brum but way can he not produce the good on a more regular basis