From SweetScienceN5 : Theo and The Ox
Hi Myles,
I always feel the season starts a fortnight too early.
Leave August for holidays, concerts and Notting Hill Carnival, then get things underway in September.
Nonetheless, your article about Theo Walcott got me thinking.
Neither him nor his fellow ex-Southampton colleague Oxlade-Chamberlain have had much constant success with Arsenal.
Both speedy, both eager, both in decent physical shape when not injured.
Both full of promise when signed at young ages.
Yet only flashes of their potential at Arsenal.
There has to be a shortfall in coaching which contributes to this?
They share a willingness to make runs, both on and off the ball, which far too often their team mats do not pick up.
A sign of individual rebellion on the pitch?
No. More a failure of the manager on the training pitch to set up a team shape and play to his players’ strengths.
I really think these two would have been far more effective in the Arsenal of 2002 – 2004, when a counter attacking and more direct style was used, than our more recent style of passing the ball around the outside of the opposition penalty area desperately hoping someone, anyone, will make a decisive move. The players hoping. The crowd hoping.
It is neither’s fault that they fit the marketing department’s telegenic player template, and both have shown resolve to come back from injury in better physical shape than before. They could have taken the easy money in China or the Gulf.
But both appear to be in the last chance saloon this season.
The squad is full of attacking midfielders; Willock, Gnabry, Maitland-Niles etc all hoping to be at least bench selections from the start of next season, the competition is intense.
Enjoy your August.
Myles says:
Maybe Oxlade could move and improve. That might work.
Theo, a player less technically versatile, looks too scared to step out of his Colney comfort zone.
Arsenal is his blanket and his luxurious kennel- he knows who he is there.
Coaching could have improved them, I agree. But maybe they’ve missed the boat now, maybe both players have a brilliant future behind them.
If so, that’s quite sad.
But King Arsene will always buy nice lads with pace from Southampton.
Since 1996, which Arsene player has earned the most caps for England?