#3 Theo Walcott is thriving in a new look Arsenal
Theo Walcott of fast running and ‘Sign da ‘Ting’ fame isn’t playing to prove the masses that he’s good enough, not to get a new contract or for a move to Liverpool and certainly not to prove to the boss that he can be the next Henry. He is playing for himself and the team. And it’s working. This Arsenal side, sans a focal point, is as fluid as fluid gets, as the front four interchange positions and look to cause overloads on the flanks on a regular basis.
This serves Walcott well as he looks to Alexis, Ozil, Iwobi (and Cazorla and Xhaka to an extent) to pick him out as he makes runs behind the defence. What’s more is that Walcott is finally not overthinking when he has the ball. Both his movement and passing are now more instinctive. This serves him and the team well as the football is moved around with pace in the opposition’s third.
This was apparent to see against a Swansea team trying to figure out a new identity. Walcott skinned Taylor repeatedly but unlike previous years it wasn’t his only party trick. He also found space behind Amat and gave the Spaniard a torrid afternoon. With Bellerin developing into a world class right-back who complements Walcott’s game, Arsenal seem to have a right-hand side that most opponents will fear.
