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Is this man really a ‘liability’?

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Theo Walcott has no doubt had his fair share of criticism thrown at him this season. Sometimes a little too much in my view. He’s frustrating to watch at times it must be said, and he also has a tendency of drifting away in some games, becoming almost non-existent, not to mention his decision-making is still poor despite some improvement. But when he’s up and about and playing at his best you’ll know he’s there.

I have to say I’m a fan of Walcott, and after reading what Stewart Robson recently said about the young Englishman I just had to jump to his defence, though I have said a few bad things about him myself. But Robson took it to a whole new level.

Speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show on talkSPORT earlier in the week, Robson said:

‘Theo Walcott is a ‘liability’ and should be sold by Arsenal this summer if he is asking for a wage increase.’

I disagree. Walcott isn’t a liability.

His contract expires this summer and I for one want him to stay.

But Robson insists it would be no great loss if Theo were to leave Arsenal.

The former Gunner went on to say:

‘It wouldn’t worry me if Theo Walcott were to leave tomorrow.

‘Theo Walcott, for me, is not a good footballer. He is an athlete who puts on a pair of football boots.

‘He is quick, he is fast, but when he was younger he should have been taught how to be better technically, how to find space, how to find awareness.

‘He has never done that and he is a liability when he is defending.

‘For Theo Walcott to want more money, I would let him go.’

I have to admit there is some truth to Robson’s claims. He may not have learned all he needed to when he was younger but he’s learning now. To be honest, he is improving and we can see it after every passing season.

I don’t know if I’m the only one who sees it but I think Walcott does track back well to cover when the opposition counters – on his good day of course.

I’m not sure how much more he wants for him to continue playing for us. I’m sure it’s not a ludicrous amount that isn’t reasonable for a player of his stature.

He has bags of potential in my opinion, and I’m sure we can all agree that if he wasn’t so inconsistent he could ask for whatever salary he wanted.

He may be ‘an athlete wearing football boots’, but if I’m not mistaken, isn’t the pace of a striker or winger the one thing opposition defenders hate the most? No one likes to come up against something they can’t catch.

I say give the lad a bit more time. He will be simply unstoppable once he gets his act together. He already has great pace, and with a bit more composure in front of goal, better decision-making and if he focuses more on his attacking side of his game, rather than the defensive, I bet Robson will be eating a large slice of humble pie in the future.

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huge Arsenal fan, love the team and all that comes with it.follower of all kinds of sports, football being my first love, yet to attend my first arsenal game but i am planning too, some time in the not to distant future. i enjoy writing as well, that's how i ended up here, never looked back....

52 comments

  • Seun says:

    Henry stat he made us to lose FA cup to liverpool and also made us to lose CL league against Barca thereby making chelsea to be the 1st London club to win the champions league when Arsenal should have been 6yrs ago.Take it or you leave it Walcot will surely improve and help us to win titles.Arsenal inability to win trophy majorly cos of the wrong call againt us,check the last 3-4 seasons.stop blaming the boy and dont be deceive Ox is far behind walcot at present though he also will surely improve.KEEP THE FAITH

  • bamidele says:

    The question is. Is he worth the pay rise he is asking for.

  • shagx says:

    I think it’s harsh to call him a liability! Yes he can be very frustrating sometimes but overall I think he’s more of a threat to the opposition then to us. As far as I’m concern, he just needed to improve his game when he doesn’t have space to run into and his consistency! That’s all! The rest is shaping up nicely! His partnership with Sagna and RVP is absolutely brilliant! Can’t understand why people must come out and bash our own player! I think a bit of support might just do the trick!

  • kc says:

    Walcott is a late bloomer. He will continue to improve as the years goes by. Would not be surprised he play his best football when he in in his early thirties.
    Anyway, his runs at speed makes him an unknown quality to the defenders. This create confusion for the other forwards to exploit. Hence we need a Lampard type midfielder who couldrun into space created by the confusion to score. That maybe the reason Walcott does better when playing for England. Perhaps, we could play Ox as the attacking central midfielder.

  • n1 gooner says:

    Why do people say is he worth the wages.Are you Arsenal’s bank manager ffs.

    Anyone who can’t see what Walcott bring’s to the team must be blind.Sick of people picking on theo trying to make him our scapegoat.Leave the young fella alone and players might want to start staying at our club again.

  • n1 gooner says:

    You should love him.He smashed up the chavs and the spud’s this season.

  • Nubian King says:

    to all y’all saying walcott should be sold cos of his inconsistency, i’d like to see that happen. i’d also like to see arsenal come up against his new team, on one of theo’s consistent days. then we’d tell whether it was right to sell a player with his quality to a rival team. he’d tear our defence to shreds any day, whether consistent or not.

    • G. Mann says:

      WHAT – LIKE HE TORE CLICHY AND THE MAN CITY DEFENCE TO SHREDS! ANY HALF DECENT DEFENDER WOULD MARK THIS GUY OUT OF THE GAME

  • Sam says:

    Theo is never a liability to us he’s still very young and i believe he will be our hitman very soon.pls Asene don’t let him go bcos he’s one of the furture of our club

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