Walcott has recently stated that he will do his best to help Arsene Wenger end Arsenal’s trophy drought, and has also revealed that he is ready to play upfront to solve the Gunners striking problems next season.
Speaking at the ‘Just Play’ event organized by the FA and Mars, Walcott reminded us that he was signed as a striker, and that the boss wants him to eventually become one in the future:
‘They signed me as a striker; he always said I would play up front and that I just needed to develop on the right. But I think I have developed now and I want to play up front.’
Walcott’s confidence stems from the successful season he had this year (on a personal front of course). He enjoyed his best season in league football as he scored 11 goals in addition to an impressive assist tally of 10.
‘Next season I want to play up front a bit more. I was signed as a striker and I haven’t forgotten how to play up front. Maybe the boss has seen a bit more of my game coming out with goals and assists.’
Wenger would have no doubt been delighted with Walcott’s improvement. He has also shown that he can play effectively for 90 minutes, which is something he had never really shown he is capable of until now. He has all the qualities to become a top notch striker, and Wenger is aware of this. He wants Walcott to develop gradually in the wide positions before he starts playing upfront though. Wenger did this successfully with Thierry Henry and has decided to follow the same path with Walcott.
The 22-year-old also spoke about how he can use his pace to bring his team-mates into play, and also the difficulties of playing on the wings. He said:
‘With me being quick hopefully I can attract more players onto me, give more space to other players and I think you still start seeing me a bit more involved in games.’
‘Out on the wing at times it is so difficult to get involved, especially if you start off slow and don’t get an early touch. I believe I can up front definitely.’
I think he should play up front instead of on the flank but with RVP, Chamak perhaps a new striker i dont think he will get to many chances
He is not fully ready yet as his first touch is poor and cannot take defenders straight on his own and his positional awareness is not very good yet.
However, he can be allowed to start featuring in that role in Carling cup games and some smaller league games. Hopefully he would learn but he has shown himself to be a slow learner.
Good luck Walcott, i know if you can master these bits you would be fantastic.
NO WAY!!!!!!!! he can’t head the ball. Which is the type of striker we need, as we use the wings, and struggle against teams who sit back.
If we play 4-4-2 we’ll need to drop fabregas or wilshere or song. Since we’d need another winger, but we cannot afford to drop our holding midfielders since our defence is fragile enough
If wenger succeeded in doing this with henry,i think he is in better position to tell if walcott is ready to play as a striker. So chill out theo!
He was signed as striker, Henry was signed as a Winger, completely different.
theo puede ser delantero pero debe entrar mas en juego no debe cojer el balon y salir corriendo siempre debe tener mas capacidad de convinacion asi si claro theo seria unagran delantero
I would love to see him up front. he like a owen type player just more faster.. he makes way more runs now. i would play a 4 4 2. two holding players. van persie as a second striker.. song and maybe whilsere nasri and young on the wings. should be a killer squad.. i feel walcott is our only weapon we have pace wise. and van persie is just a complete striker. but van persie might not be fully fit so plan b and plan c has to be walcott.. i like him centre for counter attacks. just love how he plays now..
I’ve been saying for months to play him up front with RVP….come on wenger do it 🙂
walcott is a fantastic player and i think that with his pace he can take arsenal far.he should be given the chance
TW is delusional – someone tell him fast. David Villa and Eto’o are strikers who’re versatile enough to play either flank….if Walcott wants a system where you stand on the shoulder of the centrl defender then Arsenal isn’t his club….our game’s about movement and intelligence