Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is determined to benefit from Theo Walcott's "golden years" and expects the player to agree a new contract.
Walcott has a year remaining on his current deal and has been linked with a move to Liverpool.
The 26-year-old can operate wide and up front but as he enters his prime Wenger expects him to blossom as a striker.
"Being 26 to 32 is the best age as a striker and I wouldn't like to miss that golden age," he said.
"He can be transformed. He is naturally gifted to play in this position."
Comparisons with Arsenal's record scorer Thierry Henry have hung over Walcott for years but Wenger feels the England international, who has scored 72 goals in 297 appearances, may finally be able to step up.
"I work with him in both situations, as a striker and as a wide player but the quality of the runs is so fantastic with the pace he has," Wenger said.
"When he was younger he was rushing his finishing but he is a good finisher now."
So it looks like its going to be him and Giroud.
Walcott to be striker ?
posted on 10/5/15
comment by Grand Cannon (U18697)
posted 56 seconds ago
comment by Tu Meke Santi (U3732)
posted 7 minutes ago
Walcotts hesitation in signing his last contract had nothing to do with playing as a striker, it was all about money.
Wenger saying this now to make sure everybody knows the reason he won't sign this new contract (if he doesn', then it will purely be about money.
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He is not even playing at all so how does it become a money issue? Every player wants to play regularly, but right now Walcott is lucky to even come on as a sub. So I can see why he would want to go to a club where he starts regularly, nothing to do with money. So Welbeck came to Arsenal for money too? You are clearly not making any sense.
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I'm pretty sure Theo would have got a bit more playing time had he signed his contract by now? Debatable I guess, seeing as he has come back from a long term injury, and with the team playing well.
posted on 10/5/15
Thing is with Theo, if you take away the tactic of "running on to a through ball for a one-on-one" (and teams will cotton-on to that and sit deep) then how is he gonna score? Or even make any contribution for that matter?
posted on 10/5/15
Like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwt0cczndh8
Or this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9DdjUZ8fao
Or this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL3UapnxHyY
etc
posted on 10/5/15
I will be gutted if we lose Theo. He is much more creative and quicker than Giroud.
posted on 10/5/15
D'Jeezus - I think you make the opposite case, if you play enough games in attack you will score the odd weird goal.
The truth is Walcott is not a striker and never will be, his touch is poor, his hold up play even worse, he cannot head the ball properly and he very rarely can beat a player.
He DOES have a strength when he is in form, which is his raw pace and his moderately decent finishing - which improved markedly - he is an asset as an impact player on the wing, but that's it.
posted on 10/5/15
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
Like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwt0cczndh8
Or this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9DdjUZ8fao
Or this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL3UapnxHyY
etc
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Actually I'd be interested to see if there is any "etc"
I'm not anti-Theo, but we all know his limitations. I don't think he can play up there in our current formation.
posted on 10/5/15
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Xtf9IhUs0
These are all his goals for Arsenal before this season.
posted on 10/5/15
Loads of variety, and good movement to create space for himself.
About the back four, not sure what you mean, the question was if he doesn't go through one on one how will he score, and I showed 3 examples of how he has scored in the past.
TU Mekes clip shows even more.
posted on 10/5/15
comment by Tu Meke Santi (U3732)
posted 40 minutes ago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3Xtf9IhUs0
These are all his goals for Arsenal before this season.
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Brilliant collection, a fantastic player.
posted on 12/5/15
Well we saw what Walcott was like as a striker when he came on for Giroud (massive mistake) as we laid siege to the Swansea goal - Walcott has zero predatory instincts