Theo Walcott – Arsenal’s new front man

On Friday night, Theo Walcott latched on to a beautifully threaded pass by Ross Barkley and slotted home England’s opener against Estonia in their EURO 16 qualifier. This was Walcott’s ninth goal in 49 appearances for England and his seventh goal of the season, and he looks like someone playing at the height of his confidence, but surely there is more to come from the England man.

The former Southampton player has seen his last two seasons marred by injuries, barely playing enough to make an impact. During this period, Arsenal struggled to find a quality frontman to lead their lines, with the Frenchman Olivier Giroud not convincing enough, especially in big matches. Even though Walcott has always wanted the striker’s role, there were always doubts about the physical aspect of his game and his ability to hold up play as the lone forward in Arsene Wenger’s system. While his pace allows him to get in behind defences, his threat has often been marginalised in the past by teams sitting deep and defenders harrying him off the ball. But since his return to the first team at the end of last season, he has proved his naysayers wrong, having scored 8 goals in his last 10 starts for Arsenal, including a first-half hat-trick against West Brom in last year’s final league game and the opening goal in the FA Cup Final.

After a slow start to the current season, Walcott opened his account against Stoke with a well taken finish, set free by a beautiful Mesut Ozil pass and followed it up with a goal in Arsenal’s defeat to Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League. But his first real impression this season came in Arsenal’s triumph at previously unbeaten Leicester. Even though Alexis stole the show against the Foxes with his hat-trick, Theo put in what was his best performance in a striker’s role till date. He raced on to a Santi Cazorla through ball to grab Arsenal’s equaliser and his movement made life hard for Leicester defenders across the board.

Of his performance, this is what the Englishman had to say after that match:

“It will be up there since the knee injury and, before that, the Tottenham game. I have always said I want to play up front. When I get the opportunity I can improve and learn the position a little more. The manager has had faith in me and I just want to repay him”

Indeed it was one of his most convincing all-round performances as a striker, and he followed it up with a goal and an assist three days later in the Champions League, although it couldn’t prevent Arsenal from slumping to a 2-3 loss at home to Olympiakos. With old rivals Manchester United visiting the next weekend, the result could not have come at a worse time.

On the 4 of October, league leaders Manchester United came to the Emirates, with a new young striker in hot form. Anthony Martial, signed from Monaco at the end of the transfer window, marked his United debut at Old Trafford with a magnificent solo goal against Liverpool, and followed it up with a brace against Southampton and another goal against Ipswich. The Frenchman was in hot form, and had drawn comparisons with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry due to his style of play, not least because of his tendency to curve the ball around the ‘keeper in a manner that would evoke many memories in Arsenal fans’ minds. Of course, the Arsenal players and fans alike would also remember Martial from last year’s Champions League tie when Monaco knocked them out in the round of 16.

But as the teams stepped out on the pitch, it was Walcott who shone as he bested his display from a week back and set Arsenal up for a magnificent 3-0 win. The Gunners came out all guns blazing and killed the game off in the first twenty minutes, with Mesut Ozil’s first goal of the season sandwiched between an Alexis Sanchez brace. Even though he didn’t get on the scoresheet, Walcott was everywhere. First he set up Arsenal’s second, running on to a Mesut Ozil pass before cutting in and squaring it back to the German, and then, getting the ball from Aaron Ramsey, calmly found Alexis on the left hand side of the pitch, who jinked past Matteo Darmian before smashing home Arsenal’s third. But even after that, Walcott showed a hunger and desire that you wouldn’t expect from him earlier. He ran and pressed all day, harrying the United defence and midfield when they had possession, with his slide tackle on Bastian Schweinsteiger summing up his brilliant performance.

It was this work ethic and pressing that was missing in his game earlier. Walcott was often criticised for not tracking back when deployed on the wings, but his newfound work ethic has been a refreshing sight. In Arsenal’s hey-days in the early 2000’s, Thierry Henry used to constantly tear into defenders, closing them down relentlessly, defending from the front, which unsettled the defences and enabled Arsenal to play at the high tempo at which they operate best in. Walcott earlier missed the aggression, but it seems some words of advice and an inspirational figure in training has helped him bring that trait into his game. He recently said in an interview:

“That was one of the questions Arsène wanted me to do – to be more aggressive on the pitch,” Walcott said. “And maybe he’s sensed that I’ve had more aggression [recently].

I actually said [to Wenger], ‘Do you want me to start kicking people?’ That was my first reaction. He said, ‘No, I’m not saying that.’ Again he wanted me to be more aggressive in terms of running at players, closing them down, tracking back, being there and in their faces.”

That he is taking his coach’s words seriously is visible on the pitch. He carried on to say:

“When I first saw (Sanchez) join the club I thought, ‘Wow, yeah, this is a big statement’. Then actually seeing in the flesh what he does – you see a winner there. He wants to win and he wants to achieve things.”

“And with that work-rate – if he can do it then why can’t I do it? Maybe that was missing a few years ago. Now I’ve really thought, ‘I need to step up’ and players like that help.”

Walcott’s pace up front also means that Mesut Ozil has an outlet in addition to Alexis, adding an edge to Arsenal’s attack. In fact, in the 1,495 minutes that they have been on the pitch together for Arsenal, the team scored an incredible 51 goals, averaging 29.3 minutes per goal. This is a clear indicator that having him in the team also helps Arsene Wenger unlock the best of Mesut Ozil. In addition to his pace and movement, Walcott is also probably Arsenal’s best finisher, often getting goals from tight angles. He also has a knack for performing in big games and crunch matches, something Olivier Giroud has failed to do in his time at Arsenal.

While Arsenal fans and pundits alike have been asking for a new striker to be brought to the Emirates, Walcott might just be the complete package the Gunners need, provided he keeps his fitness.