There have been times in Theo Walcott’s career where he has enjoyed exceptional form, creating goals as well as scoring them, but regardless of performance-levels he cannot seem to shake off the scepticism that has been associated with his name ever since he was called up to the England national football team at a raw 17-years-old.
Biased BBC pundits also have not helped by attacking the player with ‘no football brain’ criticisms. However, this season, Walcott has shown that, when he is injury-free and given a sustained run of form in the first team, he can be one of the most effective Gunners in Arsene Wenger’s sumptuous attack.
In just eight starts this season, Walcott has proven to be one of Arsenal’s most consistent forwards with two assists and five goals (roughly one goal/assist for every 100 minutes he is on the pitch), with a goal against Liverpool, Hull, Chelsea, FC Basel, Swansea and assists against Watford and Burnley.
If we take Walcott’s contribution away from the club, instead of one loss, one draw and seven wins, Arsenal would have returned a less impressive two losses, three losses and four wins from nine games in all competitions.
An anterior cruciate ligament injury blighted Walcott’s campaign just two years ago, but he had starred for Arsenal in big games in the months prior, regardless of whether he had played high up on the left flank – against Manchester City – up front, like his performance against Tottenham Hotspur, or on the right.
Even Wenger has commented on his ability and his brain: “Walcott is very intelligent. He always had pace and his movement off the ball was perfect. [But] I think he is much more conscious of teamwork and he has improved as well in his finishing. He is absolutely deadly compared to ten years ago. He needed more chances to score a goal and he can finish very well. His final ball and technique are much better.”
With praise like this, here at Freebetsmate.com, we believe it is hard to see any other Arsenal star on the fringes of the first team snatch Walcott’s status as a starter and, providing Walcott can stay away from the physio’s room, this may finally be the season we see the player deliver what he has been threatening to do for many years – be Arsenal’s best / most effective player.
