Matt Le Tissier believes Theo Walcott should leave Arsenal because he doesn’t suit their style of play.
Walcott joined The Gunners from Championship side Southampton in January 2006 as a 16-year-old, but has been plying his trade out on the wing, rather than in his favoured role as a centre-forward since.
And with his contract set to expire in the summer and a host of clubs expressing their interest in the England international, Le Tissier reckons Walcott’s best chance of playing up-front is by leaving The Emirates and join a club whose manager believes in his ability to succeed as a centre-forward:
‘I’ve never really thought that the way Arsenal play football suited the way that Theo plays football – I don’t think he was ever suited to Arsene Wenger’s style of play.’
‘It wouldn’t surprise me if he moved and you may find that it actually does him good if he went to a club that played to his strengths.
Walcott has scored 10 goals in all competitions so far this season. But despite his productivity, Wenger still refuses to play the speedy forward as the lone striker.
And Le Tissier reckons Walcott would turn out better performances up-front:
‘There was obviously a lot of expectation on him as a young boy but I always envisaged him playing as a centre-forward and thought it would only be a matter of time before he did.
‘It doesn’t seem to have panned out that way and Arsene Wenger obviously doesn’t think he can play in that position because he would have given him a go before now.’
He added:
‘When he has played there he has looked a million dollars, but he’s a stubborn man is Mr. Wenger, and when he has made up his mind he doesn’t often change it.’
If Walcott does decide to call time on his Arsenal career the Le Tissier firmly believes he must join a club which plays a more counter-attacking style and deploy him in the position he desires:
‘(If Walcott does leave) I think that the most important thing is not which club he’s going to go to but which position they’ll play him in.’
‘A club that will play him as a centre-forward and maybe plays a more counter-attacking style that allows him to use his pace more – that’s the most important thing.’
I don’t necessarily think Walcott doesn’t suit our style of play as Le Tissier suggests, I just think Wenger plays him in a position he’s not really effective in. Walcott is an inconsistent performer but he obviously isn’t enjoying his role as a winger, hence his plea(s) to play as a centre-forward. And with his pace he should be given a chance up-front and prove to Wenger and us he is capable of filling that Dutchman’s boots.
But if Wenger continues to ignore Walcott’s comments then he has every right to leave the club. I wouldn’t begrudge of that. Why should he continue plying his trade as a winger when he’s a centre-forward? It just doesn’t make sense.
Is Le Tissier talking sense, or is Wenger’s stubborness pushing Walcott closer to the exit door?
Give us your thoughts on the matter below
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So according to Le Pizz “he doesnt play hime there” and “when he does” so which is it you idiot. He doesnt or he does? Yet another small brained footballer trying his hand at pundity fails the intelligence test
Everyone keeps on getting confused with Theo’s position in fifa and his average position throughout matches. Look it up he’s always the closest player to the goal and always centrally. Then look at santi cazorla, he’s always pushed out a little to the right.
Theo Walcott is at his most effective cutting in from the right in my humble opinion.Matt leTissier is obviously entitled to his view but for me Theo is too inconsistent to play at centre forward as well as lacking the physical presence for the role.Better that he continues on the wing for the time being.There he can use his turn of foot to best effect.Ps it’s time to commit now Mr.Walcott, you know you want to!
le tissier is an absolute idiot,
every saturday on sky sports score centre he comments on arsenal games and he you can tell he wants arsenal to lose, he loves it when we are.
Wenger said walcott needed to learn how to play so stuck him on the wing, but he hasnt learnt, he cant dribble he needs to be put through to score.
he isnt like falcao, van persie benzema, all players who can conjure up chances without having to use pace.
” he looks like a million dollars up front” no he doesnt, put him against a organised defence and he wont do anything.
yes i like walcott but he is overhyped. Le tissier says wenger is ” stubborn” he is a manager what are you, grow some balls and you try management,also this is the guy who didnt want to move to a big club as he would have bottled it.
Le Tissier is very wrong. Walcott does not have the build, the strenght and the skill to play as a centre forward. He is lazy and this was clouded by his pace. He can not beat players on one to one situation. His ability to dribble and hold the ball is poor. He is lazy defensively, he does not track back whenever he loses the ball just like Arshavin. He could be better if he polishes his game but he would not. Any player that thinks he knows than the manager will end in the dust bin of history.,Shaun Wright Phillip was as electrifying as Walcott even stronger than Walcott but because of over ambition and greed for money, he has almost become a forgotten player. Walcott should be very careful about overrating himself. Anyway, he is an ally of RIP sorry RVP because they planned this thing together since early in 2011/2012 season. Mark it, he will end up at Man U. They are both ingrates and traitors. Their underperformance when needed over the years contributed in no measure to Arsenal’s problems.
As Wilshere admitted in the paper today it’s time for the players to stand up and takFunny enough in the headlong rush to vilify Wenger people forget that all these brilliant players that have left us to win dollars oops sorry trophies bottled it in every single game of any significance for arsenal.The champagne moments were invariably against teams of journeymen in matches of no import
Not sure I understand all this “…I don’t like playing on the wing” nonsense. Lets ignore the fact that the Arsenal front 3 can pretty much do what they want, how can a player dictate where they want to play? And how can we as fans encourage that by saying “we understand he wants to leave cause manager won’t play him where he wants to play”?
Don’t care who the manager or player is, the manager runs the team. If manager says play in goal you do it with a smile on your face or eff off .
Well said let’s get this in perspective if you are on as an electrician you dont “plead” with the foreman to let you work as a plumber