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Is Walcott still frustrating to watch as ex-England midfielder claims?

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Theo WalcottFormer England midfielder Carlton Palmer believes Theo Walcott still cuts a frustrating figure to watch.

Palmer, who played for 11 sides during his 21 year career, admitted Walcott needs to sort his game because the Arsenal winger doesn’t use his pace to full effect.

Palmer also believes the 23-year-old needs to concentrate on more on developing his game on the wing rather than worrying about a long-term future as a striker.

Walcott has been plying his trade on the right wing since moving to Arsenal back in 2006 from Southampton, but has been placed up-front on a number of occasions up-front by Arsene Wenger this season.

Walcott was deployed in the wide position on Wednesday night for England against Brazil and played a part in both goals the Three Lions scored. However, Palmer insists the wannabe striker should focus and learn how to play the wing position properly.

He was quoted on talkSPORT.com saying:

‘I’m a little bit frustrated with Theo Walcott. I know the first goal [against Brazil] came from his run inside but it took him 58 minutes to go outside the full-back. He still runs inside all the time.

‘I’d like him to stay outside, on that touchline, then he can receive the ball and use the grass in behind [the defender]. Speed, that’s his asset. Then, when they shut him off, he can come inside.

‘He’s got so much ability but he’s so frustrating. It looks like he doesn’t understand where he should be running to utilise his pace.

‘If Theo Walcott gets the ball and knocks it past you, I don’t care who you are in the world, you don’t live with him. He just needs to sort his game plan out.’

Do you agree with Palmer?

Does Walcott need to improve his game on the wing rather than focus on a long-term future as a striker?

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8 comments

  • Adekunle says:

    Walcot need to stay focused on the right wing, rather than çlamoring to be a front striker .

  • efficiency says:

    He need ??? focus on wild area rether than up front.

  • young_gunnerz says:

    Rubbish comment. Its like saying messy should dribble to the outside of the defender because he has pace. Theo can play the way that best suits him. He has an eye for goal and nothings wrong with that. Most wingers from England are not very good in front of goal and they generally just put crosses in. Theo is different he has the ability to score and doesn’t need to conform to the traditional English mentality of playing on the wing.

  • SeattleGooner says:

    I think he has been using his pace more effectively this year and the increased production is evidence of that.

  • Mike the max says:

    People said the same kind of thing about van Persie last year. That he should play behind the main striker. They were wrong about him and they are wrong about theo. his pace makes everybody say winger but he will become a terrorist up the middle. Full backs are usually very mobile but centre backs are generally much slower, he will cane them.

  • Femi Aina says:

    let palmer stayed glued to his outdated tacts. walcott is combining his normal english predisposition with playin d arsenal way. Good combo! Though he is yet a finished arcticle,his learnin continues unabated. But had fared well this season. His other side still agonisingly frustrating.

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