Theo Walcott has backed Ryo Miyaichi to challenge for a first team place at the Emirates next season.
The Japanese wing wizard is currently enjoying a very fruitful spell on loan at Bolton, with Reebok locals claiming he has singlehandedly dragged Owen Coyle’s Trotters from the relegation zone with a dashing mix of raw pace and cheeky smiles.
Set to return to N5 at the end of the season, the 19-year-old speedster will be hoping to catch Arsene Wenger’s eye during pre-season as he fights with the likes of Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Andrei Arshavin (maybe), Lukas Podolski (maybe) and Walcott (probably) for a starting berth.
Reflecting on what’s he’s seen of his young teammate, Walcott told Arsenal.com:
“Ryo has done very well at Bolton. It is hard for such a young kid to go there and do what he is doing, showing no fear with everything that happened at Tottenham [with Muamba]. It is hard and it has probably hit him definitely.
“He will be a better person for it, a better player and I can see him coming back here next year and playing a lot more regularly.
“The way he is playing, there are full backs out there now who are thinking, ‘I don’t want to play against him this week’.”
Miyaichi certainly looks to be more than a marketing tool used to tease a few memberships out of Eastern Gooners. A fan favourite with the Feyernoord fans during his first loan spell last year, his progress in the north-West has been mouth-watering since January.
Obviously it’s still early, but let’s hope he provides Arsene Wenger with a selection headache next term…
“…it has probably hit him definitely”
Footballer quote 🙂
Might be the “Footballer Quote of the Year,” most assuredly.
All that was missing was a few “You knows”
Probably “Footballer Quote of the Year,” definitely.
The scary thing is that Theo is one of the more articulate players out there…
He’s not. In his interviews he only descibles things as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. He needs to widen the vocab.
He is simply a natural winger with a lot of talent and also a hard worker. we need him because walcott is playing up front eventually and the OX in the middle so he should be in the team next season.
On the wing we’ve got Ryo Miyaichi,
Harry Redknapp’s a little bit twitchy.
With Miyaichi, I dont think we need Hoillet. So many midfielders and wingers at Arsenal now but poor strikers.
First Team Squad Ins and Outs for next year?
Strikers Out: Chamakh and Bendtner
Strikers In: Podolski and Afobe
Wingers Out: Arshavin and Benayoun
Wingers In: Miyaichi
Midfielders Out: Denilson and Diaby (sadly)
Midfielders In: M’Villa, Wilshere (LANS!) and Frimpong
Defenders Out: Squillaci
Defenders In: Vertonghen
Goalkeepers Out: Almunia and Mannone
Goalkeepers In: Shae and Martinez
3 signings and our squad is transformed….I’m ok with this.
Another striker in could be Joel Campbell if he gets his visa.
i still say stick with diaby, when he plays well hes capable of producing moments of sheer brilliance and is a real game changer.
Joel campbell looks quality, if a bit rough around the edges… Good signs that he can perform at the international level though, been banging in the goals for costa rica (see costa rica v spain)
Diaby’s not going anywhere. Wenger will feel that he owes him at least half a season of playing fit before any decision is made on his future and who’s going to buy him this summer after having spent the entire year out?
As for goalkeepers – Fab remains designated number two – Shea and Martinez require loaning out to get them into big league form.
I would be inclined to go with Le Coq rather than Frimpong, as much as I love him! I think he will be a more cultured and consistent player.
i love how AW’s said “Like a new signing” so much even when you abbreviate it i understand instantly haha
You forget Joel Campbell for Strikers who has been looking good over in France.
id probably keep arshavin and diaby.atleast play them in cup matches
I see Walcott has added himself to the golden lexicon of footballer oxymorons.
“… It is hard for such a young kid to go there and do what he is doing…”
Isn’t Walcott only just in long trousers himself?
I wouldn’t know, I’ve only ever seen him in shorts.
I arrived early once and saw him warm up in long tracksuit bottoms. Does that count?
noOKHe did indeed do very well over here with Feyenoord.
Exciting prospect.
We will have some rather cluttered wings at this rate. I reckon Arshavin must leave, and then Podolski will be given a few chances at playing centre-forward, otherwise we’ll have brilliant players out of the starting XI. I mean, Ryo, Ox, Gerv, Walcott, Arshavin and Podolski all fighting for two places would leave four of them fairly disgruntled. So I wouldn’t be surprised if Ox plays more frequently at CM, Arshavin leaves, Ryo is mostly a super-sub, with Gerv and Walcott occupying the starting berths most games. Podolski, I reckon he might start a few on the wing, and also… Read more »
Joel Campbell and Benike Afobe could also feature from time to time next season as back ups to all of those players. Afobe, like Podolski, seems to be quite good out wide and as a centre forward. Whereas Campbell, from what I’ve heard, is a classic goalscoring number nine. In my opinion, all we need is to hang on to our current players, sign Podolski and we’ll have a fantastic choice of attacking players. And yeah, always good to see good players bigging up other good players, particularly when they could be challenging for that player’s position in the first… Read more »
Your only as good as your squad…next year, we are going to be foookin wonderful!!!
Main strikers: RvP, Chamakh, park ( for what its worth ) and fingers crossed, podolski, WINGS: RYO, Wallcott, the OX, Gervinho, Mids : Rosicky, Arteta, Song ( all very experienced ) Wilshere, diaby ( both LANS ) frimpong and le coq and even connor henderson too ( would have been involved to some extent this season if not for injuries, looks a good player mind you! ) and ramsey. Thats NINE players to fight it out for THREE midfield spots! You tell me if we need another midfielder! Defence : Bosscielny and Verm first choice CB pairing, with djourou and… Read more »
Why thumbs down. It’s a fair assessment.
If we can keep all our players (by that I mean Van Persie, walcott and Song as opposed to, well…… The others) its a mouth watering prospect for next season
Aaah, the optimism of the football supporter!
ahh yes…there is that vela guy who lacks commitment, and is no good and only knows to score by chips…..deadwood, terrible, sell him. now. Ryo is the deal, and so is Gervinho, and Arshavin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QEVjxUTltA
Great goal – thanks. They were already 3.0 up though to be fair!
I think it all went wrong when he was loaned out to west brom and made a mess of it. If only he’d gone to bolton that season with jack…
I’m loving all the positive and optimistic comments on here. …and I whole heartedly agree with a lot of the comments. Podolski is a good signing and I’ve always rated the the guy and viewed him as someone I would like to see in an Arsenal shirt. He’s a powerful and clinical striker. Makes some good runs and is very effective at getting on the end of crosses in and around the penalty box. I was following Ryo most of last season, and I have been enjoying the reports on his progress this season at Bolton. I generally like Bolton… Read more »
By the way, Ryo will count as a homegrown player when he turns 21. Yet another reason from a squad composition perspective to be happy.
We only need Poldi and all our loaned out players back. I would also like to see more of Henri Lansbury, I am surprised nobody mentioned him, he was so hyped up at the start of the season but I am sure he would do good in near future. COYG.
Alas I think H Lansbury will not be returning in the ARSENAL first team. Big Sam is not his best friend. Very few games for West Ham. Its a shame
Newcastle are an example of investing in quality without breaking the bank in order to go up a level. I hope Arsene can learn from their transfer strategy
Erikson, Yan M’Villa and Robben
Haven’t Newcastle copied our strategy? Sell your best players if a good offer comes in and buy good, unknown (in England) players from Ligue 1?
No we sell our best players and don’t replace them. Who is our replacement for Fabregas?
SONGBINHO MUTHA FUCKA
That is such a funny submission… Arsene must earn from Padew transfer policy. Good on you son
It might be funny for you but maybe if we signed a striker in January like Newcastle who reaped the benefits of signing Cisse we might still be in the CL!
I do feel that the impressive pairing of TV5 and Tony Koscielny may get broken up to fit in The Per, i know some will think i’m wearing a white jacket but Per just seemed to offer calmness (see slowness!!) to back four, I also feel that a Semi used Per would actually be a hindrance on the team, he strikes me as a player that needs to be playing every week for optimal fitness/performances and as such he will struggle by being in and out of team, whereas I do think the aforementioned could slot in and out with… Read more »
We Love Arsenal yeah we do!
Dont worry i will play him as a centre back next season…thats his true position
Speed kills. Give me a few games of Ryo, Ox, Walcott, on the pitch at the same time? Defenses across the league go sleepless at night.
Very excited about Ryo. He moves like a young cristiano with his double step overs and pace when he was first coming through. but his delivery of the ball is phenominal with both feet. He’s only been there a few months and he’s already taken over set piece duties at Bolton.
We could have the best player to ever come out of Asia in this boy. certainly would be a better option than playing Ramsey left wing……
Anyone remembers Lansbury?
Yeah, she’s not a half-bad actress and singer.
Probably a bit old for the squad though, don’t you think?
Thank you Bolton for Wilshire and now Ryo. Maybe next season we send them Gnarry.
As for the others onloan youngsters, they cannot even played regular football, how then could they play at Arsenal. The only reason I think Lansbury will be in the squad next season is so that we could fulfil the home grown rule. Similar situation with Djourou.
Compared to some of the interviews given by nba and NFL players Theo is a certified member of mensa
miyaichi is too effin good
i say why not send walcott out on loan somewhere. has to learn to play the full 90 mins.
If we sign hazard it will be good for us
Give up on Hazard. Is this the kind of personality you want playing for us?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLtMdA4SWvQ
What happens is Arsenal dosent qualify for next season Eroupe champion league? as i am seeing totenham and chelsea taking the remaining two slots.
We 5pur2 will never finish above Arsenal, live with it!
There we go…walcott on his knees, miyaichi just dropped the proverbial pen, you know what happen. Come’on walcott stop kissin a** and be your own man.
What happens if Arsenal dosent qualify for next season Eroupe champion league? as i am seeing totenham and chelsea taking the remaining two slots.
On what grounds do you reach that conclusion?
next year: ryoxlade chambermachi
prepare your anus EPL