Arsenal: Theo Walcott England Performance Epitomises Frustrations
Arsenal’s Theo Walcott came off the bench for England against Slovakia and his inconsistent performance simply epitomised fans’ frustrations with his game.
The first international break is a truly terrible time to be a football fan. Just as the Premier League is gaining momentum and the summer comes to a close, club football is replaced by meaningless international matches played between a giant and a minnow in which attack plays defence like a training ground routine. One positive to be gained from international games is further opportunity to scrutinise some of Arsenal’s players.
One such player is Theo Walcott who managed to force his way back into the England squad with new manager Sam Allardyce clearly noticing his early season form. While Walcott started on the bench, he was brought on in the second half in search of a breakthrough for fellow speedster Raheem Sterling.
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It is likely the two will be battling with each other for that right-hand side in the foreseeable future, and both had similar standard performances on Sunday evening. The two, in glimpses, showed how dangerous they can be, but ultimately a combination of a lack of intelligence and end product plagued their respective games.
For Walcott, he had a couple of lovely touches, including one excellent whipped in cross, low, fierce, fizzing across the six-yard box that Daniel Sturridge was inches away from at the far post. He also lost the ball repeatedly, squandering some excellent positions with poor first touches and end product.
Having said that, he was a definite spark in a lacklustre England side up til then. But then, that has always been the issue with Walcott. He looks so dangerous while also being so wasteful. It is infuriating to watch him play, with full knowledge of how good he can be without ever producing his best football consistently.
His recent performance for England was the epitome of such frustrations. The positive, though, is that Theo is fit, and if history is to be followed, that is a very rare occurrence indeed. As he progresses through this season, it well be his fitness that determines his form, because, with a run of games, he could well recover his very best.
Walcott will have to become a more consistent performer, both for Arsenal and England this season, if he is to resurrect a stagnating career. Fitness, though, will be key. He has made a good start to his eleventh season at the Emirates, but the same old frustrations are still far too prevalent in his game.