In January this year, Theo Walcott celebrated 10 years at Arsenal. The teenager with immense potential who arrived at the north London club from Southampton’s famed academy was no longer a scrawny kid but a young man with a beard and a decade of experience under his belt.
And yet, while most fans pondered over how fast the time has flown since he held up a maroon no.32 shirt alongside Arsene Wenger at London Colney, there were many who wondered if he had indeed fulfilled that potential.
Many, including yours truly. thought his time at the club was coming to an end and that his place in the side was no longer taken for granted. When the club was reportedly chasing players such as Marco Reus and Julian Draxler in the transfer market, there was no second thought. Walcott’s time was up.
But the transfer window slammed shut and Walcott, who had for so long craved a centre-forward role, settled for the right wing, it seemed like his last chance to grab the opportunity to prove his doubters wrong. A chance to show that he belonged at a big club like Arsenal. A chance to finally fulfill that potential that saw a then-cash-strapped Wenger spend £12m on a prodigy with an eye on the future.
The future has arrived – again. But it is only September. A haul of five goals and an assist so far is by no means a reason to give him a testimonial when the time comes but this season has seen a completely different Walcott take the field.
Walcott’s rebirth a positive sign for Arsenal and England
So what has changed this season that has prompted what many fans call a “headless chicken” to suddenly become a player who has literally become unplayable? Why has a player who did not even make the England squad for Euro 2016 suddenly forced doubters to scratch their heads?
One thing that has been very obvious since the start of the season is his work rate – both on and off the ball. The moniker of ‘England reject’ had weighed down on him all summer and he has worked hard to shrug it off and deliver for the Gunners.
“I spoke to him about the disappointment of not going with England. He is a special case. He went at 16 to the World Cup. We are now at 2016 and he hasn't been to another World Cup.
“He has matured, when a player survives this type of disappointment from what was promised for him at 16, the way he dealt with the situation, I always felt there was something special in this guy.” – Wenger
Walcott has started every game for Arsenal so far (except for the EFL Cup match). And what we have seen is a desire to receive the ball, fight for the ball and make good use of it when he has it at his feet.
No longer are aimless crosses sent in, his passes are no longer predictable and his movements have a predetermined purpose. His natural speed and acceleration have always been his key assets and his first touch has improved.
He also battles hard for the ball. A couple of years ago, Walcott was the last player you expected to go for a 50-50 ball. Living in constant fear of injury, he inevitably lost the physical battles with defenders. Not anymore.
Against Chelsea he was unstoppable. He gave Cesar Azpilicueta, the youngest defender in an ageing Chelsea backline, a torrid time. His movement, especially for his goal, personified Wengerball and Antonio Conte did not have an answer to his performance.
“He used to be 90% forward and 10% defending,” Wenger had explained after the win over Chelsea. “Today he is 50-50. He does the job both ways and he does it both ways with commitment.”
When FC Basel were torn apart in a scintillating first half at the Emirates, Walcott was again the orchestrator-in-chief. He won the ball back to initiate the attack which resulted in his goal.
Two well-taken goals on the night in the 2-0 win, the first a powerful header after beating two defenders to it (only his second headed goal of his career) simply proved he was back to his fearless self again.
More: Didier Drogba cools down Theo Walcott's delight after Arsenal's 3-0 win over Chelsea
Partnership with Alexis and Bellerin key to unleashing Walcott
Olivier Giroud’s absence from the lineup has actually made Arsenal a more fluid team in attack. The Frenchman is a lot more static and looks for the first available pass while playing on the shoulder of defenders. Alexis, on the other hand, is a harder man to mark.
The Chilean forward drops deep and roams between the lines when he can and it throws the defenders off their game. This allows Walcott to get inside and the two have forged an understanding that allows either player to get forward unmarked when required.
“The combinations between me and him (Alexis) are very positive at this moment in time. We seem to sort of know when we play off each other quite well. If he comes short, I go long and we’ve just got a good sort of combinations.” – Walcott
Alexis is not the only player Walcott is benefiting from. Right-back Hector Bellerin spends so much time in the attacking half that one would be forgiven for thinking Arsenal play three at the back.
Another young player with pace to burn and ever ready to stretch defences, his runs combined with Walcott’s presence have given defenders nightmares. Combined with Alexis, the three form an effective triangle on the right that is constantly on the move to flummox defences.
“Me and Hector have got a good relationship on that right-hand side,” Walcott said after the game. “It’s quite a pacy right-hand side.”
It sure is. The fact that Alex Iwobi also plays on the left makes Arsenal’s attacking quartet a frightening prospect. And they press together as a unit as soon as they lose the ball, starting with the tireless Alexis spearheading them.
Can Walcott sustain this form over a season?
This is not the first time Walcott has started a season strong. It may not be his last. The only thing that has stood in his way is his own self-belief and confidence.
The last time Walcott had a stellar season was the season after Robin van Persie left. 21 goals across all competitions in 2012/13 had finally signalled his arrival on the big stage. He has never touched double digits since.
Two injuries the following season curtailed his campaign and he never rekindled his form despite prolonging contract negotiations to eventually sign a £140K/week contract. But he has proved himself to be a big game player. And there’s a reason for that.
Walcott is a player who thrives on space behind the defence. And he gets that against the big teams who generally play a high line and attack; not sit back to absorb pressure which negates his pace.
That could be Walcott’s biggest test. He has already proved he is no longer a one-dimensional player this season. But there is still scope for improvement. He may be only 27 years old but he is currently Arsenal’s most experienced player with over 350 appearances to date. Will he live up to the tag?
“I always felt there is character and intelligence in this boy,” Wenger said when he praised Walcott. “He is a guy with a good assessment of his performances and qualities.”
The signs look good for a player who finally seems to have matured. And Arsenal can only hope he has a goalscoring return similar to that 2012/13 season.
