Tag Archives: Arsenal FC

Arsenal missing Theo Walcott

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Over the years, Theo Walcott has been much derided by Arsenal fans, England fans and the media. Brilliant one game, anonymous the next. Despite last season being our top scorer with 21 goals, and also adding 14 assists, many still question his place in the side.

It is often said you only realise what a player contributes to the team in general when he does not play. A lot of people underrated Gilberto Silva massively during his early years at the club. It was only during a 7 month lay off with a broken back during the 2004-05 season that many realised how important the invisible wall was to the teams make up.

We saw in the 1-1 draw against WBA how much we missed Theo Walcott. Back in the middle of September, I posted about how Arsenal were playing like a Brazilian side with their new 4231 formation, and how this formation was heavily reliant on having a player with pace on one side. We saw against WBA how when you take this pace away, the side becomes too narrow and does not break the line of the defenders enough.

The WBA game was probably our worst attacking performance of the season. With Wilshere and Ramsey out wide, but both drifting in, we often ended up with all 5 midfielder’s in the middle of the park. No width and more importantly, no pace.

A few instances spring to mind where we desperately missed Walcott. The first was a break away from a corner. Normally whoever brings the ball out looks first for Walcott. With his electric pace, he is key to our counter attacking. Unfortunately, without Walcott, we had no other pace options. Mesut Ozil had the ball and he had a choice between Giroud or Ramsey going forward. He played a good ball to Ramsey, but he had to check in side and by the time he did this, the WBA players were back in droves and the chance was gone. Had Walcott been on the pitch, I am sure we would have seen him rampage down the right before playing the ball into Giroud or Ramsey for a tap in.

The second scenario happened a few times. Often Theo Walcott is a cross field out ball. When play is tight down one win, he is usually in acres of space on the other, allowing us to switch the play and exploit this pace. Unfortunately, without Walcott there, that space went unexploited. Jenkinson tried to push into it, but did not get far enough forward. This meant that play often became to congested and then break down on the other side of the pitch.

Theo Walcott also creates space for others. He often gets ‘chalk on his boots’ which widens the pitch, and his dangerous play usually results in teams having to use their full back, and either a centre back or winger, to close him down. This then gives more space to either his full back, or the midfielder’s. Too often, we were easily closed down against West Brom, as they pushed us into a congested middle, we were unable to create space for ourselves. Had Theo Walcott been playing, this would not of happened.

Yes, Lukas Podolski or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could have also made a difference. Their pace on the wings would have supplied a similar threat to that of Walcott, however Walcott has shown himself in the Premier League to be the better performer of the 3 and we missed him.

With the International break now upon us, we have 2 weeks for Walcott to get fit. I am sure he will play in our next game, and we will be back to our swashbucking best.

The fact we managed to get a point out of a tough game with the amount of injuries we currently have (Sagna, Diaby, Walcott, Chamberlain, Podolski, Cazorla, Sanogo) is testament to both our squad depth and current mental strength. As players start to return, we should begin to see just how good this Arsenal side are, and if we are truly title contenders.

Keenos
 

The Arsenal and Me – Glen’s Story

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I am a glory hunter.

There I said it. At the tender age of 8 years old, with no football team to support & no father figure to follow, I remember the older boys on the estate talking about a game that was going to be played on a Friday night. For the week leading up to the game, the older lads played it out the on the estate. I was put on the Arsenal side to make up numbers. Friday night came.

May 26th 1989. I felt as if I had been playing and representing my mates and Arsenal on the estate so I wanted to watch it. There was a problem, my mum not a football fan, was not interested. That early evening I went to bed early climbed out my window and watched at my friends. That game, them moments of sheer excitement got me hooked. That was me I was an Arsenal fan.

As I grew older and my passion for the game grew, my knowledge got better, Arsenal signed a player called Ian Wright, something about that man that made me want to be him. I loved his style his passion everything about him. I was the white kid on the estate that would score a goal and “bogel” like he used to. I practised the one step penalty, I admired his ability, I was hooked on Arsenal. It was my drug.

Still at 10/11 years old I had not been to a game. I knew my mum would never take me and she wouldn’t let me travel to Highbury with the older lads as I was to young. not being allowed to do something got me itching to go more & more.

Aged 14 a few weeks before my 15th birthday, I though ‘Sod it, I’m’ going. Arsenal were hosting Norwich. HIGHBURY was my destination with £10 on me and no ticket, I took my chance. I can’t remember how much I paid to get in and I can’t really remember the game. I just remember winning and seeing it 1st hand what a feeling it was to see The Arsenal. that day we won 5-1.

From this day on, my aim was to play football & go to The Arsenal. I have been lucky enough to see us lift Premier League titles and FA Cups. I have also had the disappointment of watching us lose in finals … Liverpool, Birmingham, Chelsea. My love for the club still grows. I still get the same buzz now as I did when I was pubescent 14 year old lad.

There is something about going Arsenal that made me feel like I had the family I didn’t at home. Now I am a dad of 3 boys. I do it all different already; my boys come football with me and recently went on their first away day. Arsenal is now well and truly in my family and will live on for generations to come just how I want it to be . UP THE ARSENAL

Glen

10 Athletes Caught Smoking

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Michael Jordan

One of the greatest athletes ever enjoyed the odd cigarette. Smoking on occasion did not stop him getting thee NBA records for highest career regular season scoring average (30.12 points per game) and highest career playoff scoring average (33.45 points per game) as well as being named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN

Sir Bradley Wiggins

Four time Olympic Champion and Tour De France winner was pictured smoking in August last year. For a sport which relies so much on lung capacity, the odd smoke did not stop him from becoming the 1st English winner of the hardest race in the world

Zinadine Zidane

A glass of red wine and a cigarette. That is how the French relax, and it is how Zinadine Zidane relaxed prior to the 2006 World Cup semi final against Portugal

Shane Warne

The greatest cricketer of his generation and the best bowler of all time not only smoked, he was a chain smoker, a womaniser and a legend. 145 test matches, 194 ODIs, over 50,000 balls bowled on an international stage. Oh yeah, 1,000 international wickets too

Anna Kournikova

Former world number 8, Wimbledon semi finalist, twice winner of the Australian Open in doubles and absolute babe. She once said “My smoking has nothing to do with my tennis.”

Johan Cruyff

Used to smoke 20 cigarettes a day up until 1991 when he quit after a double heart bypass surgery. Proof, if any, that smoking a lot does not stop you becoming one of the worlds greatest footballers.

Michael Phelps

He might never have been pictured smoking a cigarette, but the greatest Olympian of all time with 22 medals including 18 golds was once caught smoking from a bong

Jack Charlton

Was once photographed with a cigarette in his mouth whilst training with Leeds, he made a club record 773 appearances for Leeds. Add in his England caps, he had of 800 top level games.

Alex Rodriguez

The most expensive baseballer in history was picture smoking a cigar. In 2007 he signed a 10 year contract worth $275,000,000. I bet he celebrated by lighting a cigarette with a $100 note

John Daly

He smoke. He drank. He ate. Proof, if needed, that if you pick the right sport when young, you can do whatever the hell you want.

Other footballing smokers:

Ossie Ardiles, Mario Balotelli, Fabien Barthez, Dimitar Berbatov, Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Coentrao, Ashley Cole, Vincenzo Iaquinta, David James, Federico Macheda, Sir Stanley Matthews, Jackie Milburn, Alessandro Nesta, Robert Prosinecki, Wayne Rooney, Socrates, Gianluca Vialli, Jack Wilshere123