Walcott

Gooners

It is fair to say I not the only Gooner disappointed with TW’s performances this season. Having recovered from a shoulder injury, you would think he would grab every game that comes his way by the scruff of the neck. But he hasn’t. Fair to say also that he is only 18 and we are expecting a lot from him. In truth, I am not expecting the world from him, but a more matured performance in terms of decision making. Only in flashes has he looked the part of an Arsenal player. Generally, he seems to run with his head down and when the time comes, more often than not fails to decisively to either cross or shoot and ended doing a cross shot which benefits only the opposition. Sometimes, I wish he would just take the simple pass and gain his confidence and take the next step.

I think he is a clinical finisher and the timing of his runs through the middle reminds me of Freddie Ljungberg. No I am not being ridiculous. With the exception of Eduardo, the rest of the first team does do not exhibit this knack. That is why I think TW could be an important player for Arsenal. We need players running between defenders. We have plenty of passers and players like Eduardo and TW can benefit greatly from this.

A lot of people have taken Wenger’s comments re TW’s slow development as a sign of displeasure. I think he was just answering a question and nothing more. We will never know what Wenger would have said to TW re the latter’s development. But I do realise that if Wenger is not happy with someone, we usually never see them in an Arsenal shirt again. But Wenger has kept playing TW in various League and Cup matches as well as starting him from the off. This looks more like a development program for me.

English critics have slagged off Wenger for thw weight of expectations put on TW’s young shoulders ie, going to the WC and buying him so young from Southampton. Thing is, this weight of expectations are generated by the English media desperate for an English player to succeed at Arsenal so that they can shoved it up Wenger’s ass by saying English players can and do succeed at Arsenal. When this fails, they throw back all their failed expectations at Wenger under the guise of false prophets brought about by Wenger. This is typical English media not taking responsibility for what they themselves hyped up.

I am behind Wenger on this and will continue to support TW. I won’t compare him to Rooney or Cesc but want to remind those who think TW should be playing for another club gaining first team experience to look at Upson, Pennant and Bentley and think whether it has actually benefited them ie, England material? Or look at Norman Whiteside how his career ended prematurely after exploding into the scene at such a young age.

Gunner6