Theo Walcott has started in the last two first team games and been very disapointing. He may have got the equaliser against Spurs but with the luck he got from this I think Francis Jeffers would have produced the same end result. His shot was off target and only the ricochet saw it roll over the line. Up until this point, Theo had been anonymous and gave the ball away cheaply whenever he did get it. This was the order of play come Saturday's game against Birmingham. I give to you a few names now: Mark Randall, Henri Lansbury, Kieran Gibbs and Carlos Vela. You have all heard of them I am sure. Theo is far closer to the first team than these three but does he deserve to be? I want to look at these guys and look at what they have in front of them, the tasks facing them and their likely future. But quickly let me sum up that of Theo:
Theo Walcott
He came to us with a big reputation after his large transfer fee from Southampton and having taken part in no matches for our first team, went to the World Cup with the England squad. Wenger may have thought this would help his career and he would learn a lot from the experience. That may be so, he may have learnt a lot in training but it has had opposite consequences as well. Had he played at that level, maybe it would have been worth it. However he did not play and there is only a certain amount he can learn from being around a major competition.
The problem was that he came back with an even bigger reputation as the "next boy wonder" and "next Wayne Rooney". This was the worst thing for Theo and Arsenal. The lad only started playing Football at a serious level at around aged 10 or 11. It is clear to me that he is lacking the know-how that others around him will have developed in their earlier years. He has the pace which undoubtedly made him a promising talent for Wenger.
We know he can finish as we have seen on the odd occasion. Thats the problem, we have not seen it enough. I know he has not played many games on the trot but saying that, he has not impressed enough in those games he has been given a starting place in, to warrant a longer stay in the team. If Theo could show some more consistency, then Wenger might consider him as a first team regular. Right now it seems he still has an awful lot to learn.
Walcott seems to play with excitement and adrenalin rather than his brain. He scurries around at a great speed trying to use his pace to his advantage at every moment but this makes him predictable. Whenever I have seen him mix up his play; dribbling in and out, accelerating away from players and using clever passing, he has impressed. Most of the time though he hopes running straight with his burning pace will automatically get him past the man. It will not work the majority of the time and I think this is why he is learning on the wing. Henry did the same before Wenger could use his talent through the middle.
Don't get me wrong, Wenger has a talented player on his hands and one who is willing to learn. His career up till now has been rushed and we must wait with him. He went to the World Cup way too prematurely and the expectations started to run away with themselves. We must take a deep breath and accept that, like Henry, he needs to develop under Le Prof and then soon we may see the potential come to fruit. Maybe a loan move would be a good idea?
The fact Theo is English will mean the fans take to him more. People might deny this but it definitely means they want him to flourish far more at Arsenal. Diaby has been poor this season and many have been quick to criticise but he is being played out of position. It does not excuse his lack of quality but Theo has been equally poor but many fans will let him off, especially after the goal against Spurs, despite playing in a position he is more comfortable with. However, he does not have a divine right to suceed here and it will take some luck to fulfil the potential he has.
There are other players that deserve a chance right now. They have impressed regularly for the reserves and been very close to the first team squad already. Wenger believes in these guys and they will be involved next season but when other young first teamers are not performing well, I do not see why Wenger doesnt give them a shot.
Mark Randall
We saw what he can do when he stepped in for an ill Theo at Blackburn. He slotted right into the side and passed the ball as well as anyone else in the team. He can play on the right of midfield and the left too. His best position is in central midfield but right now we are full in this department. He is technically ahead of Theo but he needs to get stronger and faster before he is ready for a proper stint in the first team. That is what Wenger will work on over the summer.
He is one example of the work Wenger has done with the academy and finally players are coming through. Wenger mentioned this transformation as a goal of his and he took all the criticism thrown at him regarding the lack of English players in the squad. It seems that Wenger has proved them wrong as Randall is one the first of three to play for our first team this season.
Kieran Gibbs
Yet another reserve player to make the step up. Against Inter Milan he was brilliant on the left of midfield. For a young player to play your debut, in a match against Inter Milan is a big step up. He could have played against PSG the day before but it was an interesting choice from Wenger to put him in with the majority of first teamers in a tougher game. It gave him a closer look at Gibbs in a tough game at a high level. He came off to a standing ovation and was largely unfazed with everything. He passed the ball well, was assured on the ball and showed some great pace.
He showed he can do well at left back as he had a brilliant game at Sheffield United as he set up our second goal and was part of a back four that kept a clean sheet. This squad definitely lacks a left sided player and Gibbs could be the answer. Another English graduate and highly regarded by Liam Brady and Arsene Wenger. Definitely one for next season, at the latest.
Henri Lansbury
The third player to come through the academy around the same time as Gibbs and Randall. He has been likened to Gerrard in his play and I guess that is fair but again slghtly ahead of ourselves. He likes to get into the opposition box but is also prepared to get back and help out facing his own goal. He will find it hard to get into the team in his position but he is arguably the most gifted of the three Englishmen. If he is patient he will do very well at Arsenal and I look forward to seeing him play soon.
Carlos Vela
He does not fit the description of the other three I mentioned but is in a similar boat. He has had to go out on loan to get a work permit but in a way it has done him some good. He has been playing in La Liga which is a very technical type of football and this should help coming to a team like Arsenal. He has good skill on the ball, a good touch and he is quick. He can play on the wing and Wenger will probably use him here to start with, similar to Theo.
Many believe he will come back to us in the summer and go straight into the first team squad. He has the techncial ability but needs to toughen up a bit. He has benefited from a loan spell and I think Theo could get the same experience from a similar move.
My point overall is that we have a few young players coming through and right now they have as much right to a first team chance as young Theo. He has only impressed on odd occasions and needs to learn more before he is ready. He has not been helped by his career path and the media circus but he is under the best coach right now. Wenger will not rush into buying new players with these 3 or 4 players waiting in the wings. He knows he has talented players in his set up but knows he must get the timing right with their introduction to the first team.
We shall see soon enough why people are excited by Wenger's work off the pitch with the youth set up, I certainly cannot wait.
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