Arsenal: Will Walcott's Improvement Statement Come True?
Theo Walcott has promised that the best is yet to come from his Arsenal side. Is he being overly optimistic or this side set for an improved season?
Late in the season, when the line between success and failure is a matter of fractions, performances, ultimately, do not matter. Football is a results business and that is never more true than down the stretch. Early in the year, however, the obsession with results, while still important is not the be all and all.
Rather, the building of momentum through a combination of acquiring points and impressive performances is a much more worthwhile pursuit, bringing far greater rewards further down the line. For Arsenal, while the start of the season brought some horrifying efforts, the results have taken a significant upturn since then.
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Nonetheless, the side have not yet reached their best form, lacking the precision in attacking areas while still looking vulnerable defensively. Thankfully, after Saturday’s 4-1 win over Hull City, signs of life from the Gunners were beginning to sprout, and when asked about the match, goalscorer Theo Walcott stated that he could see that the best is yet to come:
“The three points is the main thing. We had a very tough game against Southampton, we got a great point at PSG in the week and we’ve been tested this week with a couple of away games. Hull wasn’t going to be easy – they’ve had a very good start and I think they’ll take a lot of points against teams here. I think so. Maybe in the time gone we might have been bullied in these sorts of games, but everyone was physically strong and we’re getting better, stronger and fitter in each game now. I think the best of us is still to come.”
So, are Arsenal in a position where they can put together a string of matches that build momentum for the coming season? Next week’s match against a reeling Chelsea side offers the perfect opportunity for the Gunners to lay down a statement of intent to the rest of the league.
Win and win well, and it will be difficult for others to ignore. Moreover, a run of some truly wonderful fixtures after next week’s game brings the chance for Arsenal to enter a run of wins that could elevate themselves to Manchester City’s greatest challenger this season.
Theo’s comments may seem slightly overly optimistic, perhaps even naive. Nonetheless, Arsenal have the chance to prove that they are one of the best in the league next weekend against a tough Chelsea side and prove Walcott right.