Walcott must be cursing his luck this season because after the last one, he would have no doubt been hoping to kick on and get another 20 plus, but he got a injured at a really bad time, and in terms of results, we have not really missed him. The thing that surprised me is that, Walcott has yet to get a start since coming back from his injury, I thought he was a nailed on starter for the game against Hull. Wenger has been cautious with him, or is the boss just opting for other creative options like Wilshere on the wing? With the amount of creative players we now have, Wenger is always looking to try and get as many of them into the team as possible. There is no question as to who is the better footballer between Wilshere and Walcott, but the later offers us something that we have missed. When good teams like Dortmund and Everton pin us back, we have clearly lacked the pace to go on quick counters. Walcott with his pace is clearly an outlet in those type of situations. But, when teams sit back, I would rather have a Wilshere than a Walcott in my team. It could almost be a Wilshere or Walcott debate for that right hand side.
I think Walcott is going to see himself used as a sub on the right increasingly with the form of Wilshere. Especially now we have Flamini and Arteta along with Ramsey in the middle. You can't really leave a fit Wilshere out. Although it's not a bad problem to have at Arsenal and it will hopefully push Walcott harder to win back a starting place.
I think Theo absolutely has a place, and a place to start. He should start against teams who play a high line, have a slow defense, or are very wing-based as he tracks back very well. Against someone like Chelsea, or Man Utd, with Terry & Cahill or Rio & Vidic at the back, he could prove deadly. Against teams with pacy backs or lower teams who pack the defense he will be much less effective. He would be great against Napoli as Arsenal can afford to sit & wait & launch Theo on the counter.
Theo will be crucial especially now that he should be back to full fitness. As Bonstar said, he's good against teams with slower backs and his link up with Ozil (from glimpses we've seen) will be deadly especially since he gives us penetration.
I think Theo should be starting soon, Wilshere has been quite average for the most part this season, though he does maybe seem to be hitting some form, but then he was anonymous against Everton. I'd prefer having Walcott-Cazorla on the wings, and eventually Podolski.
Wenger said he was slightly ill and didn't train all week before hull or everton and that is why he didn't start. Think he will be hugely important, his pace and finishing is something no one in the team comes close to possessing. We will see more from the mf when theo and pod are back as they will have runners for through balls.
For me he is one of our key attacking players and i think Wenger is taking his time in bringing him in. As the OP said, he offers us something that none of the creative maestros offer, and that is blistering pace, a counter-attacking plan B and an out-an-out striker. He is one of our more better finishers in the team. He will feature heavily in the second part of the season.
Yep I think he's very important. He's a totally different player to what we have and I was worried when he was out that our only option when making subs was more of the same. Sometimes you need another option. That said, as Vela mentioned, he's supposedly been sick which is why he's been making bit-part appearences. Same thing goes for Flamini too against Everton apparently and Rosicky too. Seems we've had a bug for the last 2-3 weeks affecting players. Hopefully it's all but gone now as we don't need that around this month!
Just to think that a year ago he was absolutely cricual for Arsenal... Now he has to fight for a starting place. He should start against Napoli I think.
The pseudo LW thing we're doing IMO was a weak link vs City. Just as Theo showed his quality as RW lately, so we need someone who can actually play LW to showcase their quality there. Which is why Pod and Oxo being fit can't come soon enough. Gnabry is still abit too raw for it IMO.
Well, he has showed that he is pretty important in this festive period. Got five goals and two assists. The guy is very effective in the final third, these days.
