Should Arsenal tell Theo that he'll get his chance as a striker if he signs a contract, and then make that statement public during a Press Conference to call Theo's bluff and pile the pressure on him? Surely if they did this, he'd be backed into a corner, of either admitting he wants more money, or signing? I know Arsenal don't normally do their business like this, but it's getting tiresome, and upping the pressure might just work.
Nah! Think Wenger should be honest with him, he has already mentioned in the press many times that he sees Theo down the middle and has said he will try him there. I actually believe Wenger when he says he thinks Theo will sign and it is not all about money. Think he should be starting more games as he has proven his form most times. Besides with our strikeforce if Giroud isn't playing they all rotate anyway. He was our 2nd best attacking player last year and is a real asset would hate to lose him. Think game time and some reassurance would get that contract sign. But I don't seem him starting many games upfront especially if Giroud keeps improving. Only thing I don't get is that RWF is pretty much a striker just more back tracking and he gets plenty of oppertunity to score and set up it's good enough for Messi, Villa, Ronaldo, shoudl be good enough for him.
People see Walcott finish off chances and say 'oh look he really is a forward' but he is getting these chances from playing out wide. With limited starts, he has got five goals this season. As Velachiperoo, he can plenty of chances to score. Maybe, he has just got pissed off at seeing Gervinho start the through the middle and now he thinks he deserves a chance as well in that role.
Also speaking to a few Southampton fans, they deny that Walcott played through the middle when he was there. So this thing about him being a CF before we got him is not correct, because even for the Saints he was playing out wide.
Hell he could have played CF every single game for Southampton but wasn't he 16/17 when we bought him that has little to no relevance 5/6 years later. Honestly he made that RWF position his last season notching up 10+ goals and assists. Don't know why he hasn't started more this season because when he has come on he has been good. I say Pod plays left Giroud/Theo/Gervinho can rotate the CF and RWF positions depending on the opposition. But I do believe he has earned game time and if he is as consistent as he has been coming off the bench then hoepfully we offer him a good deal and he signs. But starting upfront for the sake of it is a no go. That being said if we ever play with two strikers he is the perfect player in the little and large scenario.
Don't know which Southampton fans you were talking to but he definitely played up top for us... Trouble is, his pace meant he could play there against championship defences but not prem/European
4-4-2. Walcott with a big man usually - a classic formula! Rasiak, Fuller or Kenwyne Jones at the time
The reason we signed Theo was because of his pace and finishing. He was playing as a CF and he had some really impressive goal scoring stats at youth level if i remember correctly. I also think he would be very good in a 4-4-2, and against certain opposition he can probably play CF. Just remember he is still 23. There is plenty of time for him to convert into the striker role. We need to explain to him that what happens right now is not as important as his development in the long term. Give it a couple of years more experience and bulking up and i can see him being a great Striker. I bet by 28 Walcott is very hot property. Over the last couple of seasons he has been one of our most productive players. Call him inconsistent all you like, he has contributed more than alot of our players have. He has been playing well when he has had opportunities this season and he should be getting game time now. I really hope he signs a new contract as i think he gives us more than most fans realise.
To be honest, I think his best position is a RWF. I think Walcott needs to get his head down and get on with his game. He's shown enough so far this season to suggest that he should start out on the right. He'll get his chance through the middle I'm sure, but all this posturing as a CF and delaying signing his contract is not doing him any favours.
