It came as a great surprise and frustration to many
Gunners that the recent transfer deadline day passed by without further reinforcement to the squad. Dreams of a title challenge seemed like exactly that; however, the result against Liverpool and the team’s newfound solidarity and defensive stability seem to have given a renewed air of positivity around Arsenal, with Liverpool now taking the brunt of the media’s negative attention.
Amongst all of this is the side story of one Theo Walcott, the speedy winger-cum-wannabe-striker, whose refusal to agree to a new contract should have meant another ruthless departure from the Emirates Stadium before deadline day. And so it came as a huge shock, in some ways more so than the lack of arrivals, that 11pm passed on the 31th of August and young Theo remained an Arsenal player. This is especially so given the recent departures of Nasri and Van Persie who were both in similar contractual circumstances when they too were sold.
So what now for Theo Walcott?
It would appear from the rumours in and around London Colney that the young forward is holding out for a bumper pay packet which would make him more or less Arsenal’s best paid player. It comes as no surprise that the frugal management team have rebuffed this, believing that it does not represent value for money for a player who has, it has to be said, not really progressed sufficiently from the raw talent which was signed from Southampton back in January 2006.
It seems almost ridiculous to think that almost 7 years have passed since Theo Walcott joined Arsenal. In that time he has only shown flashes of the potential that forced Arsène Wenger to part with a reported £5m initial transfer fee, rising to some £12m in total after performance related add-ons.
Walcott’s stats don’t actually make for bad reading, with the 2011–2012 season his best to date, amassing a very impressive 11 goals and 13 assists in 46 appearances. However, when observed for an entire match, he strikes a somewhat isolated figure, often out of sync with the motions of a well-oiled machine which has been finely tuned in the ways of ‘Wengerball’. Take for instance the home game last season against Sp*rs, in which Arsenal eventually ran out 5-2 winners in dramatic fashion. Aside from his two well taken goals, Walcott was truly awful in the game. Time and again he has failed to deliver on a consistent basis, something which he is only too aware of himself having admitted that he is only ‘consistent in patches’.
The other suggestion doing the rounds is that the contract stumbling block is not financial. Walcott apparently sees himself as more of a striker, and wants Arsenal to give him more games in his favoured position before he considers a longer stay. I actually think that Walcott would have much to offer as a striker in a team that favours a 4-4-2 formation, using his pace to feed on flick-ons and through balls alongside a bigger ‘target-man’ and against high-line defences. However, teams that still play this way, especially in the Premier League and higher-echelons of Champions League football, are now few and far between. 4-5-1 is the new 4-4-2. Ball retention, patience, technique and vision are vital, and teams generally don’t ‘open up’ enough anymore for a player of Walcott’s pace to have such a devastating impact.
Out of the starting XI
The initial signs aren’t good for Theo. Whispers and sound-bites were leaked to the media that talks had been had and “short-term arrangements” agreed, but ever since he supposedly rejected the contract offered (for a reported £75,000 per week), he has found himself plucked from the starting XI. Firstly, the largely ineffective Gervinho took his place in the team that fought out a useful draw away at Stoke, with Walcott getting some time in the second half from the bench. Then, the prodigious Oxlade-Chamberlain was in the line-up for the fantastic away win at Anfield; however, Walcott didn’t even get on the pitch. One would think that form or injury permitting that team will now remain the starting XI going forward.
Questions
A couple of questions spring to mind. Firstly, were Arsenal actually banking on selling Theo Walcott before 31 August, but surprised that no one came in for him?
Has Wenger now lost patience with the player, perhaps seeing that the limitations in his game do not represent value for money for the requested contract, or further investment of time in his ongoing development?
Or perhaps the rise of “The Ox” has meant that Wenger now sees Walcott as more of a squad option than starting XI material?
Only time will tell what the future holds for Theo Walcott. However, it seems certain that playing time will be greatly reduced until he decides to pen a new contract.
Most supporters might be frustrated with this situation but I for one am quite happy that the club has stood up against any unreasonable demands placed on it by Walcott and his advisors, and now appears to have taken control of the situation in restricting his playing time.
For Walcott it now seems to be a question of re-sign and play, or miss most of an entire year of first team football and reap the financial rewards of a Bosman transfer next summer.
I wonder which option he will choose.
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