It was just what Arsenal fans have been waiting to see from Walcott. Since returning from a knee ligament injury, he has been presented with a number of opportunities to score, only to spurn the chances due to a lack of sharpness. The cobwebs now appear to be gone, and Walcott has rediscovered his range.
Speaking to Arsenal.com, Walcott enthused about being back on the scoresheet:
Yeah, it’s been a long time coming. I had a lot of chances since I have been back, but I have been out for a year so it is still going to take time. It is just nice to get some match fitness back. I was very pleased with the finish and there will definitely be many more. People will be expecting me to score every game now but it’s all about getting the match fitness, sharpness and the goals back. The goal was a bonus.
Nevertheless, this was not a perfect performance from Walcott. On several occasions, he burst free of his marker only to choose the wrong option, either slaloming into congestion or playing a pass to unoccupied space.
Tim Ireland/Associated Press
His finish was pure instinct. When given time to think, his decision making was called into question.
It would be easy to dismiss those moments as mere rustiness; however, the reality is that those flaws have always been present in Walcott’s game. Anyone surprised by those instances of indecision clearly doesn’t remember Walcott in his pre-injury incarnation.
A curious thing happens when a player is sidelined for a prolonged period: perception of them improves. Flaws are forgotten, and strengths are exaggerated. Their absence is cited as the key reason for any flaws in the team, and their return is regarded as a purifying panacea.
Tim Ireland/Associated Press
Should Theo Walcott start ahead of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?
Yes No Submit Vote vote to see results
Walcott is a useful weapon in manager Arsene Wenger’s armoury. He has the speed to trouble any defence, and his movement off of the ball can be excellent. In scoring positions, few Arsenal players are more clinical; now that Lukas Podolski has moved on, only Alexis Sanchez can rival Walcott for predatory penalty-box instincts.
However, there remain deficiencies in his game. He’s not particularly inclined to track back, nor is he capable of joining up with Arsenal’s intricate approach play.
It will be fascinating to see how Wenger chooses to use Walcott between now and the end of the season. In Alexis and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, he has two wingers with a better all-round game than the No. 14. If Oxlade-Chamberlain can finally add goals to his game, it may prove difficult for Walcott to secure a regular starting place.
SOURCE bLEACHERrEPORT
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق