He last scored in that 2-2 draw against Liverpool, and that game was in January. So that's 12 games ago and he only missed three of those because of injury. I thought yesterday he was really poor and there was a few times where he had the chance to really cause Everton problems on the counter, but either his touch or decision making let him down. Wilshere missed six weeks, so you could understand his lack form, but Walcott was only out for two weeks, and yet he looks like a player we has returned from a long injury. Is this a short term problem or has Walcott lost that drive he had when he was trying to prove a point to the club and Wenger, during that tedious contract saga? Right now, I would not have him in the first team, and would just use him as an impact sub, because as impact subs go, Walcott is a pretty decent option to have.
We do need to give him some time.... last night was very physical and we didnt play our normal game. But Oxo is making a good case for himself. He is doing really well at the moment.
On current form,i'd actually start gervinho over Theo. At least he's looked threatening. Or as threatening as a confused deer can look.
Or play Cazorla on the right and put Podolski on the left. But that would mean we have to continue with Giroud through the middle......
I would personally give the OX his chance against Fulham, with Podolski through the middle. Walcott to come on against a tiring Fulham defence in the second half, and if you look at their defence, it's pretty old and slow.
I don't think Giroud is doing a bad job. He is not going to get RVP numbers with Podolski, Cazorla and Walcott round him. Walcott's scoring has dried up, because the team is playing better and no one is even trying to play football against us again. Everton just clammed up, which is a bit of a disgrace for a team only a few points behind us. It will be interesting to see how we do against United, and if they try to play us head on. We might do better than people think we will.
Surely he should get good numbers with those players around him? RVP scored a ton with Ramsey and Song as his supply, any decent CF would have a field day with Cazorla as his supplier.
I think if we did this we would be better with Theo in the middle than Giroud. Im not too concerned about Theos form at the moment as he has Giroud inside him who is never available for passes or crosses and Sagna does not seem to be breaking forwards as much so is not providing the outlet he used to for Theo. I don't see it so much as his form has dropped as he's more isolated in the more defensive system we seem to be playing now so has a harder job to do. Its one of the reasons I have been crying out for Podolski to play ion the middle for months. He has better movement than Giroud so would help the wide players out more.
How many balls is Walcott going to win in the air when team press us through the middle like Everton and Norwich did?
If a team presses up the pitch there's usually space for Theo to use his pace in behind - but he'd need Cazorla or similar in the "Bergkamp role" to pull the CB's out a little. I'd go with Theo or Pod in the middle next game - Giroud just isn't cutting it & Arsenal need to mix it up a little.
We don't play that way. How many headers did Henry get - not many. Theos pace would give him a far greater threat than Giroud with his flick ons that normally go to defenders or behind or holding the ball up until the defence has got back. In case you cant tell I haven't liked Giroud for a long time and have got more and more frustrated with him. Finally everyone else seems to be coming around to my way of thinking. I even got banned from one forum for venting my frustration at the Giroud lovers a bit too honestly
I really hate to be the one to say this as it will be brushed over as something "that guy that doesn't like Walcott" said, but this has nothing to do with form. He is still doing well in games he's always done well in (maybe marginally better) and being **** (and/or nonexistent) in games he's always been **** at. He's the very same player. 1 excellent performance for 4-5 poor performances as always, not necessarily distributed uniformly.
Not sure Walcott has ever fulfilled his potential. He's been troubled with injuries over the years and in between he's put in the occasional high quality performance and a number of average ones, he hit a purple patch earlier this year that secured him a big money contract that I was never convinced he was worth. If he ever captured his best form and produced this consistently he could be a game winner and a key player for us....
The game has moved on in 10 years. Get over it! That invincibles team would be mid-table right now. I loved them to bits, but teams just are not coming out to play football against us any more. They are knocking us over and not getting called for it.
No. I agree with you on many things, but the Invincibles in their prime would have wrapped up the PL by now. In their current age they'd be about Liverpool position.
The main changes (as quick generalisations) are the park the bus mentality and the need for stikers to be technically good. Giroud fails with both of these and at least Theos pace would get him in behind defenders and make teamms defend deeper (park the bus even more). The likes of Giroud, Caroll etc are history for top teams. Get over it.
