Theo Walcott says advice from Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry, as well as being around the drool-inducing energy of Alexis Sanchez, has helped mould him into a more aggressive striker this season.
Charged with leading the Gunners attack the 26-year-old has grown in stature in recent weeks, earning plaudits for both his four-goal haul in the last seven games and eye-catching defensive work.
Speaking to the Mirror while on international duty with England Walcott cited regular conversations with Henry – who is currently coaching the club’s under-18s at London Colney – as he underlined his eagerness to continue learning his trade.
“Having Thierry at the club now, I have been chatting to him on a personal level behind the scenes to learn things from him.
“He’s with the under-18s and, at times, I think some of them don’t even know who he is! I’ve had quite a few words with him about some of the games I’ve played.
“He has just given me his analysis on myself and, if I’ve needed to ask him some questions about it, he’s always there. That’s what coaches are there for.
“I think, sometimes, you see this generation of players, they’re actually scared to go up to coaches and ask something.”
On the subject of being asked by Arsene Wenger to change the way he plays, he added: “Going back to the question about when it clicked about going up front, that was one of the things Arsene wanted me to do – to be more aggressive on the pitch. And maybe he’s sensed that I’ve had more aggression.
“I actually said, ‘Do you want me to get stuck into people?’ That was my reaction. He said, ‘No, I’m not saying that’. He wanted me to be more aggressive, in terms of running at players, closing them down, tracking back, being there and in their faces.”
Walcott also touched on the impact of prime Alexis ‘physical specimen’ Sanchez; a man whose peppy donkey-work has inspired other squad members including the Ox and Olivier Giroud.
“When I first saw Alexis 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.”
And, with that work-rate, if he can do it, then why can’t I do it?
There isn’t a reason.
This could well be a defining ‘moment of clarity’ for not so young Theo.
This quote should be laminated and stapled to the head of any knuckle dragging moron pundit (Hoddle) who bemoans the impact of ‘johnny foreigner’ players on the Premier League. Cream rises to the top.
Joe Cole could have played for Brazil.
people actually said that.
Come on now, that’s not fair. He could’ve done if he was Brazilian and better at football.
Joe Cole would not have looked out of place getting thumped 7-1 by Germany, quite honestly he could have done a better job at CB than Sideshow Bob did.
we will win the BPL if theo and alexis stay fit. thats for sure.
all the others are rotatable during the season but these two should play almost all the games if we re to win the title this time around.
It’s so amazing how fan perceptions change ever so quickly. Nothing ago people wanted Theo out, now he’s above Mesut Özil in the pecking order? Don’t think so.
winning is about scoring goals and theo scores goals.
put mesut and giroud and watch us struggle against defenses that hold a deep line.
The work rate against Manchester United was just outstanding, considering how that was what people were getting on his back about. That slide tackle on Bastian was a thing of fucking beauty, as well as how quickly he bounced up and started sprinting forward. That shit made me erupt with a “THEEEOOO” scream, and possibly destroyed a vocal chord. Endeavour is almost as important as anything on the football pitch, just look at Alexis. Never stops running, even when nothing’s working.
Very off topic here, but just saw news that a Zagreb player tested positive on doping after the Bayern game I think. May have consequences in regards to results I think/hope, maybe.
On; Theo played really really well and it sounds like he’s turned a switch, if he can play most games like that with the rest of boys in form…oelalaa
Apparently, all that be expected is a fine. That’s what I read on The Guardian at least. It would be better if we just focussed on giving Bayern the barbed dildo treatment we gave Man U in my opinion.
Why would anyone read the Guardian if one can read the Sun?!?!
You don’t ‘read’ The Sun. You just look at the pictures.
I really hope that was some sort of sick joke.
Barbed dildo…ha!
Yeah in order for the game to be scrapped – there has to be a minimum of two players that fail drugs tests in the match day squad. Even if they were all juiced up to the eye balls, we should still be brushing them aside, and dishing them out a fairly heavy panning.
Cool name. Didn’t used to go by IAmAGoober did you?
No man just a gooner from Amsterdam 😉
Why the down votes? I was offering my compliments and asking a question.
Seeing Theo track back is one thing to behold but to see him be effective when doing so is incredibly encouraging. That track back and perfectly timed tackle in the middle of the park at the weekend was especially lovely to witness. Olivier’s defensive game is most effective in our box at set pieces given his height and strength but slide tackling is never something I’ve seen him do. Seeing Theo contribute in his way shows that they bring different defensive and offensive qualities. He’s much more effective with regular game time whereas Giroud can be a very effective impact… Read more »
When he chased down De Gea and Blind, and forced the throw in, I can’t tell you how much that encouraged me. The commitment to, at 3-0 up, still chase down everything was superb. There was an instance when he lost the ball, and ran pretty much all the way back to get it back. He failed of course, and left us without anybody up on the counter, but that commitment was fucking beautiful.
If Theo keeps that up, then his “defensive failures” will become less frequent than his “defensive successes”. There’s no reason why he can’t win tackles a la Sanchez with a little more experience of that side of the game.
He’s talking a good game but also in the last couple of games he’s actually started looking like a real Striker. I was firmly in the camp of ‘one dimensional – never a striker – stick to the wings’ but will be the first to admit that he might just be able to make it. I’m still not 100% but if he can crack on like he has in the last few games I’ll be fully converted.
Arsenal are clearly at their most dangerous when they press high up and from the front. Because when we win the ball back we have players like ozil and cazorla who can pick out the runs of Alexis and Theo. The United match should be the blue print.
We are clearly at our best when surrendering possession. Dominating possession demands players to probe a packed defense – those players must reinforce an attacking midfield and this opens up gaps for the defense. The dominating side may need 69 passes to create space and overload a key area (i.e. put a player in a position to make a precision pass to a striker) where as only one interception allows the defense an opportunity to create the overload via a hoofed clearance into the space. The way to dominate via possession is to be disciplined and constantly fill the gaps.… Read more »
Clearly at our best when surrendering possession ?…hmmm, are you talking about Arsenal ? It is known in football world that Arsenal thrive on attacking play.
I think that’s M*******o’s philosophy at Wankford Bridge.
An aside, is he the troll that lives under the bridge?
We are weak and vulnerable whilst engaging sterile domination. Take Germany against Ireland last night. Germany had 75% possession and failed to produce a real one on one despite having awesome players like ozil.
The irish goalie who may as well have been plucked from the stand hit one wellied clearance and produced a one on one for Shane Long.
I mean we see it time and time again. teams that frustrate us and kick us do well – whereas against city and united we surrender possession and ease to victory
That’s the more reason why le’prof uses Ramsey as his right winger; to cover the regular overlap of Bellerin..
You can’t just surrender possession to a team that doesn’t want the ball. I think I understand what you mean though – rapidly recycling failed attacks, as opposed to just giving the opposition the ball. Alexis is excellent at this sort of thing and Theo has demonstrated that he can now do something similar – by dribbling at a defence and playing a hopeless pass you can create 50/50s close to goal. The defenders now have to move to the ball rather than the player which means players like those two stand a good chance of either reaching the ball… Read more »
Why the fuck did it take the influence of Sanchez to get these guys to start giving a bit extra on the pitch? Surely this should’ve been happening all along? Nobbers.
Next week: “Gabriel’s influence inspired me to twat Costa in his 53 year old face” – Says Coq.
Everybody has a defining moment/influence in their lives/careers. Kaka and his swimming accident, Arjen Robben and the arrival of Juande Ramos at Real which resulted in him changing his diet, Arsene converting van Persie to a striker, etc. These moments happen when they’re supposed to, not necessarily when they’re wanted to. Why turn these moments into a bad thing? They’ve happened, something clicked, and the players in question are now working harder. Just take it as a positive dude.
I like the second part of your post but the first part is poo.
People often need to see others do before they can believe they can do.
Henry and RVP became better trainers. players and professionals by watching and comprehending the actions of Denis Bergkamp.
Without Bergkamp’s influence Cliff Bastin would still be our record goal scorer – and RVP would be an playing for some obscure turkish side.
After Bergkamp I think my favourite ever would be arteta.just felt it was worth a mention.
Because we all tend to overestimate our abilities to an extent. And our biggest excuse, and a valid reason sometimes, to avoid change is – I am different and the way I do things brings the best out of me.
The same realization has happened to me personally and I believe it happens to almost everyone in some form at some point of time in life.
Wish I could give your comment more than one thumbs up, Rohit!
I remember van Persie talking about how he was inspired by watching Bergkamp train alone after everybody else had hit the showers. Maybe you need to see someone who is actually at that level to believe it is possible.
Our game is so effective with speed up front, his technical level and overall game-play is improving dramatically game by game. Fingers crossed the injury Gods have mercy. Maybe they should fuck up Chelski for good, wouldn’t mind seeing them relegated.
His first touch is becoming delicious. There was that touch in the game where he killed beautifully whilst on the turn, but his second touch allowed the defender to clear it away. That first touch though, it made me feel things. Once he sorts out his second and third touches, he’ll be dynamite.
He’s also getting more confident with his dribbling. I can recall him even doing an inverted step over or two.
“He’s with the under-18s and, at times, I think some of them don’t even know who he is!”
Titi could probably coach Tottenham under 10s and they’d know who he is…Stop telling porkies Feo
This reminds me of a Frank Lampard Interview…
The reporter asks him why he decided to retire from the national team and he says the straw that broke the camel’s back was when he was talking to Luke Shaw about Tony Adams and suddenly realized Shaw had no idea who that was.
Said it made him feel incredibly old.
That ^ and he realised that he was a fat chav and shaw was a cunt manc.
It was chambers not shaw
if everyone had the same attitude as Alexis all the time we would have won the PL by now
Sooo it’s Henry, Sanchez eh? I thought his beard was the cause. There you go
I still believe it’s at least partly the beard, and the fans should make a veto against him shaving.
Good game he had..
talk less he must..
“..Sanchez; a man whose peppy-donkey work has inspired other squad members such as Ox and Giroud..”
Was that sarcasm? ..because it was pretty funny as sarcarm.. Especially if you put Ospina in place of Ox
God keeps blessing each generation with their own stars…thank heavens, I have a number of the with us..just for us..COYG!!
i find it quite strange that so many arsenal fans wrote him off as a striker,insisting that he should stay as a winger period.I mean Theo has always scored,he has always shown that he is a good finisher unlike many wingers.whats more he has terrific pace.im 22 but ive always been sure of his potential to become a good CF,ive only doubted his ability to stay fit,after all Henry was a winger as well. im happy for him and happy that finally people,especially arsenal fans are accepting that he could become great in that position.
I’ve always liked Theo and believed in his potential, but I’ll admit not necessarily as a Striker. He has shown a new awareness and drive in the role the last couple outings that wasn’t readily apparent before, and it’s far more convincing than what we’ve seen for the 300-some-odd matches previous- I think it’s really about how that light is cast as much as anything else. If this is his new, sustained approach, I’m fairly convinced and think he’ll score and contribute to a lot of goals. Loved the way deGea and their defense were not allowed to relax with… Read more »
I worry for the future of our rough diamond Sanogo
I don’t. If he develops as we hope he does, our front line will be potent as fuck. He and Danny are the sort of in the mold of the ‘New Number 9’ so to speak – tall, strong, good in the air, but have bags of pace (Danny more so). Because of Danny being the technically more gifted of the two, he’d obviously be pushed out to the flanks, but both he and Yaya are tall, physically gifted Centre Forwards. Chuba too. Fuck, Chuba is all kinds of talented. I catch myself getting fucking excited when I think about… Read more »
Being an old fart Gunner isn’t so bad. Been doing it for years. The knees hurt a bit, well and there’s the getting fat and bitter. But really, its better than supporting Chelsea, yeah?
He’s not going to turn in to a great player in 8 weeks. Let’s see how he’s done at the end of the season when he’s stayed for for the 10 months!
*stayed fit
After the midweek chaos against Olymipiacos I never had appetite to watch the manu game against gunners. When I got the results I thought it was a mistake. More of such results and Mourinho will eat his words.
Suregunner, are you sure you’re a gunner? If you didn’t have the ‘appetite’ to watch arsenal vs man utd then you are not a real fan.
Good point Lis……………………………..
I like these comments but then again they frustrate me as well. Yea I get that Alexis is a good example but why couldn’t these players motivate themselves to be the very best that they can be at their occupation. It sort of shows a sense of entitlement that some players that they don’t have to improve. Before Alexis turned up Theo should have had the same state of mind. It shouldn’t take the arrival of Alexis to make him try hard
Great podcast show recently but the negativity (of Baldini in particular) never ceases to amaze. The myriad number of times you (as a general you, no one in particular) have been wrong and you still think you know better than Arsene. Wenger was insistent that Walcott could play CF. Most did not believe so. Much like Henry from wing to CF. Who brought Coquelin into the squad? Wenger. Most pronounced him (like Campbell) surplus, “get out while you can”. Who brought in Bellerin when everyone was hankering for the technically more limited Jenkinson? Wenger. Who bought Ozil for 42.3m when… Read more »
Player improve. Ramsey did. Walcott did. Now he has stepped up into CF too. There is no reason to feel Jack, Ox Welbeck would not kick on and improve just as Coquelin did at 23yrs like Walcott, Ramsey, or even Nasri and Fabregas. I see no reason why those who say “get out while you can” to Campbell should do so with full knowledge of Coquelin start of last season in similar predicament. This is simply disingenuous to say the least. Wenger has molded this squad with reason and intent. It is not without forethought that he has bought Alexis… Read more »