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Theo Walcott the Formula One footballer: He's super-fast but fragile like a Red Bull
By Simon Cass and Jonathan McEvoy
Last updated at 10:42 PM on 2nd November 2010
The trouble with Formula One cars is they are extremely fragile machines. Countless parts can go wrong and if vehicles get too close to each other the consequences are usually serious.
It was apt, then, for Arsene Wenger to use the analogy of a car at the pinnacle of motorsport to describe Theo Walcott.
Tuned up and not missing a beat, Walcott, like Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren, is poetry in motion.
Walcott's problem has been spending too much time in the Arsenal pits, having various mechanical failures worked upon.
Need for speed: Walcott's pace is a dangerous asset for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
Looking back on how far the 21-year-old has come, Wenger admitted it was hard to get a true picture due to the setbacks he has faced since signing for Arsenal from Southampton almost five years ago.
'He is very difficult to assess as he has been in and out through injuries,' said the Arsenal boss, who will hand Walcott a starting role in Wednesday night's Champions League clash at Shakhtar Donetsk.
'Every time that he was playing regularly he was top. But you must imagine that Theo is a Formula One type. When he is fit he is always at 2,000mph, and then an impact hurts. He is more exposed than a midfield player who is a battler and is not at the same pace as a guy who goes every time at 100 per cent.'
Wenger, however, is increasingly confident that Walcott is becoming a more robust model as he matures and that his reliability problems will start to fade away.
All eyes on Theo: England ace Walcott will lead Arsenal's frontline in Ukraine
Much will be expected of the England winger in the impressive Donbass Arena on Wednesday night, especially as Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin, Denilson and Alex Song have not travelled to Ukraine.
Walcott's injury history has at least helped toughen him up mentally, as has the bizarre experience of being taken to the World Cup as a 17-year-old without a Premier League appearance to his name, before missing out on South Africa in the summer after a change of heart from Fabio Capello.
He is now back in favour with the Italian, while goalscoring displays like the one in the Carling Cup against Newcastle have made Walcott's name one of the first Arsenal fans call when he is on the bench and things are not going to plan.
'He has convinced a lot of people,' said Wenger.
'He gives us hope when you see the team struggle because Theo can come on and make a difference with his pace. Through good or bad times, he shows commitment and humility.'
Keeping on the right side of the boss is never a bad idea when it comes to getting that promotion you have been after. If Walcott can stay fit, focused and sharp in front of goal, he may soon be granted the switch to the central striking role most - including Wenger - feel he was born to perform.
'He is very, very close to playing that striker role,' admitted Wenger.
'He is a more natural striker than a crosser because he likes to put the ball in the net himself.
'He can be prolific as once he is a yard in front of the defender no one can catch him. The two he scored against Newcastle are typical of a striker on the counter-attack.'
For now, Walcott is happy to do his bit from the right, but his intended career progression from winger to striker makes comparisons with Thierry Henry inevitable.
'When Thierry Henry came here, he was a winger,' said Wenger. 'When I played him as a central striker, he said: "I can't score goals".'
'Is Theo a replica of Thierry? No. But they have in common tremendous pace, they are good finishers and both are intelligent. Give him two more years and imagine what he will be.
'Theo is the quickest player I've ever seen and he has a calmness in front of goal. Before, he rushed his decision, but now he is different.'
Walcott has honed this skill by watching footage of Henry putting them away for Arsenal. Marrying that improving facet of his game to his already blistering pace will make him a force to be reckoned with, regardless of where he plays.
And if he can wave goodbye to the injuries, Walcott could be the man who finally puts Arsenal back on the top step of the podium
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz14GNqY0OU
By Simon Cass and Jonathan McEvoy
Last updated at 10:42 PM on 2nd November 2010
The trouble with Formula One cars is they are extremely fragile machines. Countless parts can go wrong and if vehicles get too close to each other the consequences are usually serious.
It was apt, then, for Arsene Wenger to use the analogy of a car at the pinnacle of motorsport to describe Theo Walcott.
Tuned up and not missing a beat, Walcott, like Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren, is poetry in motion.
Walcott's problem has been spending too much time in the Arsenal pits, having various mechanical failures worked upon.
Need for speed: Walcott's pace is a dangerous asset for Arsenal manager Arsene WengerLooking back on how far the 21-year-old has come, Wenger admitted it was hard to get a true picture due to the setbacks he has faced since signing for Arsenal from Southampton almost five years ago.
'He is very difficult to assess as he has been in and out through injuries,' said the Arsenal boss, who will hand Walcott a starting role in Wednesday night's Champions League clash at Shakhtar Donetsk.
'Every time that he was playing regularly he was top. But you must imagine that Theo is a Formula One type. When he is fit he is always at 2,000mph, and then an impact hurts. He is more exposed than a midfield player who is a battler and is not at the same pace as a guy who goes every time at 100 per cent.'
Wenger, however, is increasingly confident that Walcott is becoming a more robust model as he matures and that his reliability problems will start to fade away.
All eyes on Theo: England ace Walcott will lead Arsenal's frontline in Ukraine Much will be expected of the England winger in the impressive Donbass Arena on Wednesday night, especially as Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin, Denilson and Alex Song have not travelled to Ukraine.
Walcott's injury history has at least helped toughen him up mentally, as has the bizarre experience of being taken to the World Cup as a 17-year-old without a Premier League appearance to his name, before missing out on South Africa in the summer after a change of heart from Fabio Capello.
He is now back in favour with the Italian, while goalscoring displays like the one in the Carling Cup against Newcastle have made Walcott's name one of the first Arsenal fans call when he is on the bench and things are not going to plan.
'He has convinced a lot of people,' said Wenger.
'He gives us hope when you see the team struggle because Theo can come on and make a difference with his pace. Through good or bad times, he shows commitment and humility.'
Keeping on the right side of the boss is never a bad idea when it comes to getting that promotion you have been after. If Walcott can stay fit, focused and sharp in front of goal, he may soon be granted the switch to the central striking role most - including Wenger - feel he was born to perform.
'He is very, very close to playing that striker role,' admitted Wenger.
'He is a more natural striker than a crosser because he likes to put the ball in the net himself.
'He can be prolific as once he is a yard in front of the defender no one can catch him. The two he scored against Newcastle are typical of a striker on the counter-attack.'
For now, Walcott is happy to do his bit from the right, but his intended career progression from winger to striker makes comparisons with Thierry Henry inevitable.
'When Thierry Henry came here, he was a winger,' said Wenger. 'When I played him as a central striker, he said: "I can't score goals".'
'Is Theo a replica of Thierry? No. But they have in common tremendous pace, they are good finishers and both are intelligent. Give him two more years and imagine what he will be.
'Theo is the quickest player I've ever seen and he has a calmness in front of goal. Before, he rushed his decision, but now he is different.'
Walcott has honed this skill by watching footage of Henry putting them away for Arsenal. Marrying that improving facet of his game to his already blistering pace will make him a force to be reckoned with, regardless of where he plays.
And if he can wave goodbye to the injuries, Walcott could be the man who finally puts Arsenal back on the top step of the podium
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz14GNqY0OU
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