Arsenal's Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla party late at West Ham

It was a bold old statement of Arsène Wenger's to suggest that it will do Arsenal good to compensate for Robin van Persie's goals by sharing the load around his newly assembled front line. His team rose to the challenge at the Boleyn Ground, with a first Premier League goal for Olivier Giroud and fine strikes from Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla crowning a valuable away win.

Having suffered a setback last weekend with a performance against Chelsea that left Wenger complaining about a lack of personality, Arsenal responded with character. Confronted by an old nemesis in the shape of a Sam Allardyce team that backed them into an awkward corner by opening the scoring, the Gunners struck the right combination of force and finesse. They remain unbeaten away and continue to play some compelling football on the road.

For all the talk of the damage a direct approach could inflict on an Arsenal team that have crumbled at set pieces lately, West Ham struggled to load too much pressure on a side benefitting from the reintroduction of the assured Per Mertesacker. Although Andy Carroll was an imposing presence, the home team were unable to mount a sustained offensive. "You can never control him for 90 minutes, but we fought with him," Wenger said.

The selection of his own big target man – and it was Giroud's first league start for more than a month – ensured West Ham also had plenty to concern themselves with. The former Montpellier striker's all round contribution was impressive. Several attempts on target, a goal and an assist is no bad return for an evening's work.

With Arsenal even looking dangerous from the set piece, West Ham duly took the lead with some virtuoso skill. So much for stereotypes. In the 21st minute, George McCartney fed the ball to Mohamed Diamé, who powered into the box, leaving Aaron Ramsey in his wake, and bent the ball ferociously into the far corner of the net. It was a marvellously executed finish from the huge Senegalese, who celebrated his first goal for the club with such relish he was cautioned after throwing himself into the crowd. He can count himself lucky as, shortly afterwards, he recklessly careered late into Mikel Arteta, but the referee, Phil Dowd, elected not to reach for another card.

The goal knocked Arsenal out of their stride and it was the man who had been struggling most obviously for confidence who grabbed Arsenal by the scruff of the neck to get them back into the game. Giroud gathered the ball in midfield, arced a pass out to Lukas Podolski and sprinted in front of his marker to lash the return ball past Jussi Jaaskelainen. West Ham had opportunities to retake the advantage, with Kevin Nolan twice in shooting range and Carroll outjumping Vito Mannone, but neither player could quite find their range.

Both teams jostled for position after the break. West Ham had to readjust around the hour mark when Ricardo Vaz Tê dislocated a shoulder as he rashly challenged Mannone. Allardyce's initial assessment was an absence of between six to 12 weeks. Kieran Gibbs was another injury concern after suffering a thigh problem and is very doubtful for the England squad.

Walcott, who started on the bench yet again but came on to provide another example of why he yearns for a striking role, played a critical part in the comeback. Giroud's deft assist set the fleet-footed attacker bearing down on goal. The finish was instinctive and ruthless, as Walcott passed the ball beyond Jaaskelainen. Message received and understood? We'll see.

Allardyce was left frustrated. "The second goal was a killer because we were in a fantastic position to score at that stage. Because we picked up the wrong pass, we've opened ourselves up and they've severely punished us on the break," he conceded.

The clincher came from a player who has become integral to Arsenal. When Walcott found Cazorla with a flick, the Spaniard arrowed a brilliant, precision third from 25 yards out. Since the beginning of last season no player from Europe's top leagues has scored more often from outside the box than Cazorla. "He's taken the Premier League by storm," Walcott said. "He's fantastic to play with every day. He's our conductor. I don't even know what foot is his best to be honest." Either, or both, are proving to be a considerable weapon.

Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 6 Oct 12

Theo Walcott scores twice as Arsenal crush Coventry in Capital One Cup

This was a refreshing night for Arsenal as an unfamiliar line-up laid on entertainment in this Capital One Cup tie. The victors relished the occasion by racking up a 6-1 win and the manager, Arsène Wenger, can be glad, too, that Olivier Giroud notched his first goal since the summer move from Montpellier.

In a merry game the Coventry City substitute Callum Ball had cut the deficit to 4-1 in the 78th minute with a header. The indignant hosts replied through Ignasi Miquel. Theo Walcott then insisted on taking his second goal with a finish from the left. It was a cheerful event and the visitors can still take pride in the account they gave of themselves.

The recently appointed Coventry manager, Mark Robins, wanted to please some 8,000 of his club's followers rather than have his men skulk in their own half. It was Arsenal, of course, who relished the match. There was particular satisfaction over those Walcott goals, although the unease continues as to whether he might leave the club as a free agent next summer.

"You have to give us time to sort it out," said Wenger. "We are always in touch with Theo's representatives." The manager also knows, though, that a range of resources is apparent. "I expect Giroud to take that into the Premier League," he observed of his new striker's finish.

Change was in the air. Arsenal's 19-year-old Nico Yennaris had, for instance, been the club's mascot when the team faced Coventry in 2000. This was just his second start under Wenger. The goalkeeper Damián Martínez and defender Martin Angha made their Arsenal debuts. Even so, it was the experience of Andrey Arshavin that was particularly prominent.

Arsenal's opener did not come until six minutes from half-time. The slight imperfections were still present as the key pass was partly a tackle by Francis Coquelin. Giroud then tucked the ball smoothly into the net. This game mattered to him and to Arsenal, irrespective of the unfamiliar team selection.

Wenger's men were eager, yet the final ball tended to elude the attackers during the first half. The Coventry goalkeeper Joe Murphy seldom needed to show off his acrobatic expertise, even if he had been beaten once by half-time. This was a stimulating match for the visitors, even though they lie second from bottom in League One.

They have made more of an impression in this tournament, but the team had not been involved in giant-killing. Slaying Arsenal was an implausible task but the Coventry side did at least contain some ballast in the inclusion of a seasoned figure such as Gary McSheffrey.

Coventry had to survive a penalty early in the second half after Reece Brown had barged into the back of Arshavin. Once two semi-clad streakers, both retaining their underpants, had been marched away Murphy leapt to his right and saved the spot-kick from Giroud.

The match was more engrossing for a crowd given at a remarkable 58,351. They were happier still when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put a 20-yarder past the left hand of Murphy to extend the lead in the 57th minute.

This was a satisfying occasion in its way. Coventry took pride in themselves and did not seem to feel that they were out of their depth. All the same there was a fervour to Arsenal.

Arshavin relished his goal after taking a pass from Giroud in the 63rd minute. Only at that relatively late stage did Coventry start to look downhearted but even then they still went forward out of defiance. The visitors suffered for that when Walcott went clear for Arsenal's fourth and the first of his brace.

For the victors there must now be confidence flooding through them. It has already been a sound beginning to the campaign. If this sort of relish and impact is to continue, Walcott may find cause to stay where he is.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 27 Sep 12

Theo Walcott stretches Arsenal's winning run as Aston Villa fold

A month ago, when Arsenal were licking their wounds as all routes to silverware had been closed off for yet another season, and they winced at the thought of what a home game with Tottenham would bring, an afternoon as contented as this seemed a far-fetched possibility. This was a comfortable, seventh successive Premier League victory in the sunshine, with not so much as a hint of anxiety, and their grip on a Champions League spot strengthened. All in all, it demonstrated how quickly footballing fortunes can be transformed.

After Aston Villa had been swatted aside with goals from Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott and Mikel Arteta, Arsène Wenger was able to reflect on a position he never dared to hope for when Arsenal had slumped to 17th earlier in the campaign. "I agree, it was a dream," he said. "You just come in the next day and do your job as well as you can. We have had some difficult times and have learned that nothing is guaranteed."

Villa, too, must reflect that nothing is guaranteed for them either. While it is pushing it for them to feel overly concerned about their own position while they remain eight points in front of the relegation places, the fixture list presents several headaches, with Chelsea, Liverpool, Stoke and Manchester United lined up as upcoming opponents.

Despite arriving as the club who have earned the most points from trips to the Emirates, Villa never looked like adding any more. It did not take long for Arsenal to hum through the gears. Their passing and movement rendered Villa clapped out in comparison.

In the 16th minute, Arsenal eased in front. When Kieran Gibbs was played in by Gervinho, the left-back aimed a low shot goalwards. A ricochet off James Collins was enough to befuddle Shay Given, and the ball squirmed in off the Villa goalkeeper. All of Arsenal's first-choice back-four have now scored over the past six games, recognition of how much it has helped the balance of their play to have authentic full-backs in position. "When you play at home and have ambition you need full-backs," Wenger said. "Without them it kills a bit of the offensive drive. Now there is more variation in our build up game."

Theo Walcott doubled the lead nine minutes later when he brought down a wonderful lobbed assist from Alex Song – which is becoming his speciality – and finished with a neat sidefoot. Incredibly, that signalled the first time that two English players have scored for Arsenal in the same league game since 1997. Wenger was keen for Song to get credit. "You do not see many defensive midfielders with so many assists. His numbers are top in Europe," the manager said.

The platform Song and Arteta (pictured left) provided underscored this win, and the Spaniard enjoyed the opportunity to show some of his creative instincts. He lashed a shot from distance that Given was able to tip over the bar, and enjoyed the opportunity to find his range from a series of free-kicks.

Villa looked ragged, and worryingly penetrable. Alex McLeish spoke of Arsenal having "oodles of class" but could not disguise his frustration that his own team did not fare better. "We were pretty lamentable in the first half," he said. "The goals we lost were weak. Coming to the Emirates you have to be realistic. But in my entire career I have never thought I'm not capable of getting a result at any club in the world."

It was hard to avoid the feeling that Villa lacked a certain something as soon as the team-sheet confirmed Emile Heskey as the lone striker in his second league start of the year. He made his presence felt to Johan Djourou as the Swiss defender felt the full force of Heskey's elbow in the face. But he otherwise laboured to little effect. Djourou was a late call-up for Laurent Koscielny, who woke up feeling the effects of tendinitis in his knee. Even a little setback like that does not easily interrupt the good vibrations at Arsenal at the moment. They finished on a high as Arteta added the gloss with a fabulous, ferocious, free kick that scorched past Given in stoppage time.

Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 24 Mar 12

Arsenal finally make sense of the topsy-turvy world of Theo Walcott

Arsenal face Aston Villa with a winger who was once famously the future and who now looks to be the future all over again

Welcome back, then, Arsenal. For a long time you were brilliant. Then you were just quite good. Then, suddenly, you were crap. Now you are quite good again. Perhaps you will soon go back to being crap. It is, let's face it, quite hard to keep up.

Either way Arsène Wenger's rejuvenated north London academy of the performing backheel will face Aston Villa at the Emirates on Saturday a team in an annoyingly unclassifiable state of turnaround: buoyantly crisis-ridden, resurgently slumped, triumphantly in fatal decline. For now, though, the mediocrity nouveau has stalled. This no longer looks like New Crap Arsenal. Albeit it also doesn't look like Old Good Arsenal either. Instead, out of enforced limitations Wenger appears to have come up with something a little different. Cheap Simple Arsenal: an Arsenal constructed out of locally sourced balsa wood, an Arsenal you can copy at home. Best of all, the new regime appears to centre quite heavily on dear old Theo Walcott, one of the more intriguing characters in English football; a player who was once so famously the future and who may now, six years later, be the future all over again.

Theo! Few England players in recent times have invoked such lapel-throttling frustrations. What acceleration! What speed! What … is he up to now? It is heartening to see such renewed purpose in Arsenal's late-blooming prodigy, the fastest slowest learner in the world, and a player who even in his most convincingly footballer-ish moments – when he doesn't seem too nice or too airily devoid of gimlet-eyed athletic cunning – still has an air of earnest otherworldliness, of having jetted in eagerly from some related realm of sporting endeavour, a job-swap wide receiver or a hurdler with a cribsheet.

Until recently Walcott still seemed indelibly marked by his premature elevation to England's 2006 World Cup squad, where he spent a month wandering the streets of Baden-Baden in flip-flops, a tourist, a mascot, a competition winner. This early Walcott still had the air of a foundling footballer, some scampering rural wood sprite spotted haring out of the treeline through the morning mist, ears pinned back, glossy-eyed, downy chest heaving.

Most commonly Walcott has been dismissed as having "no end product", often with such venom it is as though he has overtly rejected the chance to have an end product, or boisterously talked up his end product only to go rattling out of town at dawn at the reins of his snake oil wagon. Otherwise the objection is that Walcott is "just a sprinter". Make no mistake, though, his speed is born of rare physical gifts. At least one former Great Britain sprinter is given to eulogising over Walcott's effortless stride, the purity of the personal mechanics that keep him still thrumming along at top speed to the final whistle. It is a thoroughbred speed as opposed to, say, the rather frantic Aaron Lennon who runs like he's just burnt both his hands on a toasted pitta bread and is haring out into the back garden to plunge them into a pile of snow.

It seems clear now that Walcott is unlikely to develop into a Berkshire Luís Figo. But Arsenal have devised a tactical rejig that spotlights his gifts rather than his failings. The preoccupation with diffuse possession has been ceded slightly in favour of a toe-to-toe pressing game, based no doubt on the flash-mob roughings-up routinely handed out – on those rare occasions they find themselves no longer in possession of the ball – by the pigeon-chested skill-gnomes of Barcelona.

At the same time Arsenal have become selectively direct, their attack dwindled to a surgical point. Essentially they have a man who runs fast and a man who kicks the ball into the goal (you know: Him), while everyone else is charged with giving the ball either to the goal-running man or the goal-kicking man. It is a peculiarly English way of playing, a refined version of direct football whereby, rather than hoofing hopefully for the corners Arsenal instead instruct Walcott to run hopefully for the corner. Under this system the speeding Walcott is basically a punt downfield made flesh, a living breathing percentage-launch and chief instrument of, not so much kick and rush football, as rush and rush football.

In his trimmed-down role there is less need for an end product. Walcott must simply spread high-speed alarm, master the cutback not the cross, and surprise everybody by scoring occasionally (eight so far this season). He has been aided in this by the uselessness of many Premier League defences, but also by the emergence of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a fearless, barrel-chested youth who can dribble and prompt with genuine acuity and who has in the process freed Walcott up to gallop with narrow-focus intensity like a jack russell chasing a wasp along a crowded beach.

There is something else, too. It may be contrary to the historical practices of Wengerism, but Arsenal now have four young players – Walcott, Oxlade‑Chamberlain, Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs – hovering close to the England team. Unusual England players, too, in that they don't look frightened or embarrassing, or in the way of many young English players as though they've been cobbled together from spam and leather offcuts; or, like Andy Carroll, splinted into a clanking humanoid effigy from old deckchair ends and shards of corrugated iron.

There has been a peculiar ambient venom directed towards Wenger throughout the recent mixed results, a sense of having been somehow cheated by this frowsty financial puritan in his haggard nylon floor-length gown. A downturn into trophyless stability has been greeted not with a shrug but with scowling disbelief, the flaming torches gathered on the front lawn, scouring the atrium for a glimpse of that shadowy figure swishing his quilted puffa cape at the window, balance sheet clutched in one trembling hand.

Perhaps out of the constraints of squad-depletion and informed personal stinginess Wenger might even have come up with a blueprint for something just as effective as the sideways-shuffling exoticisms of old. A style we might call guerrilla-football. Sprint-kick. Run-foot. Or even perhaps Theoball: a way of playing that knows its technical limits and instead simply plays to its hand of refined athletic strengths, leaving behind the chintz of defeated expectation and just letting itself run.

Source: Barney Ronay, The Guardian on 23 Mar 12

Walcott wide awake as Arsenal ascend

Having crashed through the swinging doors of the last-chance saloon with his fate as a flop apparently sealed, Theo Walcott suddenly seems intent on salvaging his Arsenal career.

Those of us who were present inside Emirates Stadium for the north London derby against Tottenham just two weeks ago will confirm that Walcott was being singled out as the fall guy for the Gunners' imminent failure, the symbol of false promise in a season that was apparently set to confirm their demise.

An increasing majority of the fans who had grown frustrated with Walcott's consistent inconsistency decided the moment had come to abandon their patience and give up on Walcott once Spurs moved into a 2-0 lead in a game Arsenal dare not lose. At that moment, it seemed as if the one-time 'next big thing' in English football was about to drown in his own mediocrity.

Manager Arsene Wenger admitted he contemplated "removing Walcott from the firing line" as the supporters turned against him, yet that Spurs game proved to be the afternoon when the kid who has long promised so much finally awoke from his slumber.

Two superb second-half goals against the old enemy meant those same Arsenal fans who were goading Walcott at will were quick to hail him as their darling once again and while his displays since that memorable Sunday afternoon have hardly been a revelation, it seems as if something has clicked in Walcott's fragile mind.

The emergence of a young man signed from the same south coast club he was recruited from may well have sparked Walcott into life, as just when it seemed as if his fellow Southampton academy graduate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was about to steal the crown previously reserved for him, the original boy wonder has shot to the forefront once again.

Creator-in-chief as a Van Persie strike and dramatic late Thomas Vermaelen winner sealed a vital win against battling Newcastle, the player vilified as one of the architects of Arsenal's demise is now leading their improbable end-of-season revival.

Walcott looked capable of ruffling Newcastle's feathers throughout this game and while the visitors' eagerness to unsettle their opponents by wasting time at every opportunity nearly paid off, a winning goal was always likely to stem from the Arsenal No.14. And so it proved.

His threat throughout this game rarely waned. Midway through the first half, Walcott so nearly swung the game in his side's favour with a burst of his trademark pace. A perfectly-weighted ball invited Tomas Rosicky to convert from close range, only for the in-form Czech to screw his effort wide.

The removal of Oxlade-Chamberlain moments later sparked a heated debate among the Arsenal fans sitting around the press box, many of whom would have preferred to see Walcott removed. That would have been a harsh sentence for the winger, though, whose willingness to make himself available and improved desire earned him the right to remain.

Walcott so nearly snatched the winning goal as his shot was blocked by the back of talismanic Newcastle skipper Fabrico Coloccini in the final seconds of normal time, yet the winger who has flattered to deceive so often was not ready to give up on his mission to win this game.

The 95th minute began with Walcott offering a final burst of pace down the flank and as the ball fell fortuitously for the onrushing Vermaelen in the box, the big defender gleefully tapped home a winner that sparked a stunning roar from fans who believe in their team all over again.

"Tottenham have got to be watching over their shoulders now," boasted a delighted Walcott afterwards. "It has been an up and down season, but it is how you finish that matters. I put the ball into a decent area in the end and we had someone who could tuck it again. It's a big win for us, but we have to crack on from here."

Wenger was equally bullish as he was quick to hail the performance of his previously-maligned winger. "Walcott produced an exceptional performance in this game as we proved once more how incredible the spirit is in this team," said Wenger. "We look like we are refusing to give up at the moment and that has led to us getting last-minute winners against Sunderland, Liverpool and now Newcastle.

"Despite this, we have to keep our feet on the ground. We are giving everything right now and we now find ourselves in a much better position that we were a few weeks ago, but there are still ten games to play and nothing is decided yet."

Arsenal's late winner was harsh on a Newcastle side who had given their all to the cause, with boss Alan Pardew admitting fatigue cost his side in the end. "When the board went up with five minutes added time, I looked at the bodies I had out on the pitch and realised we would do well to get through it," he conceded.

"We had given everything and while I felt we had just about done enough to see it through, it was not to be in the end. What we cannot do is allow this disappointment to deflate us unduly as there is still a real chance for us to challenge for a Europa League place this season."

Fittingly, Walcott was the last Arsenal player to leave the field, with cries of 'Theo, Theo, Theo' heralding his exit. What a difference two weeks can make.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Theo Walcott
With two assists and an energetic display down the flank, Walcott has gone from zero to hero in double-quick time at Arsenal. Now he needs to maintain this improved form.

LATE DRAMA
Arsenal skipper Van Persie was at the centre of a scuffle with compatriot Tim Krul after the Gunners snatched their late goal. Clearly annoyed by the time wasting efforts of the big goalkeeper, the feud continued down the tunnel.

NEWCASTLE VERDICT
For all their hard work and effort, Newcastle left Emirates Stadium empty handed. There was much for boss Pardew to take from his side's display, but the point he craved was snatched from his grasp at the last.

ARSENAL VERDICT
Momentum is a vital commodity in any sport and Arsenal have it in abundance all of a sudden. Having come from behind four times in succession to win in the Premier League, they are now firm favourites to claim third sport after a revival not even their most blinkered of followers saw coming.

Source: Kevin Palmer, ESPN Soccernet on 12 Mar 12

Arsenal's Theo Walcott turns the boos to a chorus of approval

Theo Walcott departed Arsenal's defeat of Tottenham with the home support chorusing his name but with an admission from his manager, Arsène Wenger, that he had considered substituting the winger as Arsenal trailed and he was the subject of abuse from his own fans.

The 22-year-old had laboured to make an impact through this derby's early exchanges and sections of the home crowd targeted him as a focus of their frustration.

Walcott, whose form has suffered over recent months, appeared to buckle under the pressure when, with his side 2-0 down, he was gripped by indecision when offered the chance to tear at goal and his lack of confidence was exposed by a weak attempt to liberate Robin van Persie instead.

Yet, from that mishmash of a performance, Walcott somehow recovered his poise, particularly after half-time, to register a brace of finishes reminiscent of his eye-catching hat-trick for England in Zagreb in September 2008. They were the winger's first Premier League goals at the Emirates Stadium since December 2010. "The crowd was starting to get on his back," said Wenger, "so you do wonder if you are doing him a favour by leaving him on.

"But I felt that he has the qualities we needed, that considering the rest of the team are hiding [among bodies in-field] he is a player who can be straight, direct and can go behind the defenders. Nobody else is like that. He is a very direct player and you know that sometimes he can miss a first touch but still, considering the balance of our team, I felt it was important to keep him in the side."

The performance and the smartly taken finishes across the Spurs goalkeeper, Brad Friedel, will have been noted by the interim England manager, Stuart Pearce, who was present here. Walcott has been used by Pearce as a central striker in the England Under-21s and he could yet be considered there for the seniors against Holland at some stage on Wednesday night given the withdrawals of Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent from the squad over the weekend.

"You have to get on with the game," said Walcott when asked about the vocal criticism from the stands. "When things are not going too well I can hold my hands up. I didn't have the greatest of first halves. But it just shows the character, not just mine but that of the team.

"It was about trying to forget about that and work hard in the second half and, if you do that, hopefully good things will come to you. It happened for me. Even so, coming off and looking at that result feels unreal."

Harry Redknapp, who had worked with the young Walcott during his spell with Southampton, was deflated in defeat but less surprised by the Arsenal winger's sudden transformation from boo-boy target to match winner. "That's football, isn't it?" said the Tottenham Hotspur manager.

"People are fickle. He's a good player, a player of real talent. I gave him his debut and he's a fantastic talent. His run for the third goal … was it the third goal? I've lost track of the goals, to be honest, but he ran 80 yards to get on the ball [from Van Persie]. Not many people could do that."

The Spurs manager suffered his own abuse, as did his assistant Joe Jordan, from some home fans behind the dug-out and appeared to single one out in discussions with a steward. "It was only one idiot," said Redknapp. "Just one guy, so it was nothing really."

Source: Dominic Fifield, The Guardian on 26 Feb 12

Theo Walcott leads astonishing Arsenal comeback to bury Tottenham

This was a north London derby in keeping with the season's scarcely credible story-lines. When you can have the institution that is Arsène Wenger questioned as never before in a swell of Arsenal supporter angst and Harry Redknapp walk free from the crown court and into the position of England manager-elect, what is a pulsating seven-goal thriller, in which one team clambers back from the grave and the other sleepwalks towards it?

Arsenal's campaign has been marked by wild scorelines, most recently the 4-0 Champions League reverse at Milan. The 8-2 at Manchester United cut them to the core. But this one was rather happier, starring in the same ballpark as the 5-3 win at Chelsea. Expect the unexpected.

Wenger sat slumped when Emmanuel Adebayor celebrated his 28th birthday with the penalty that put Tottenham 2-0 up against his former club. But it was the high point for the visitors, who departed with a dent to their pride and their aspirations to finish as London's top club.

This was a triumph to make the Arsenal support forget their misgivings. It contained Robin van Persie's latest stunning goal and a collector's item from the excellent Tomas Rosicky, his first in the Premier League for more than two years.

But it was Theo Walcott who epitomised the theme of transformation. The England winger endured a wretched first half, his touch heavy and his confidence appearing in pieces. He left the field to a standing ovation, having scored Arsenal's fourth and fifth goals with nervelessly executed finishes.

The Arsenal players milked the applause at full-time and there was talk from the dressing room that the seven-point gap to Tottenham could yet be clawed back. Wenger spoke of everything having been "perfect", apart from the opening five minutes when his team had ceded the advantage to Louis Saha's deflected shot on the counterattack. As is his wont these days, Wenger could not resist a pop at the naysayers, of which there are plenty connected to the club. "Arsenal is alive more than anyone thought before the game," he said.

Tottenham were rendered shell-shocked and their misery was compounded by Scott Parker's dismissal for a second bookable offence in the 87th minute, an ill-timed lunge at Thomas Vermaelen. He will be suspended for Sunday's visit from Manchester United. Parker did not complain and he even went back to say sorry to Vermaelen, reinforcing another motif. Tottenham's performance came to resemble an apology. "We buckled, which is not like us," Redknapp admitted.

The manager said he would have expected to win at 2-0 but at no point could he feel comfortable. His team's second came against the run of play, with Arsenal having responded positively to their nervous start, Van Persie dragging wide when given a second bite inside the area and Rosicky drawing a flying save from Brad Friedel with a flicked header.

The penalty was laced with controversy. Gareth Bale showed his strength to hold off Kieran Gibbs but, inside the area and with Wojciech Szczesny lured into a bolt from his line, the winger went down. It was difficult to see that a touch from Szczesny or any defender had prompted the tumble but, on the other hand, Bale may claim to have felt contact, whether he initiated it or not. Adebayor's composure from the spot was commendable.

Arsenal's revival was ignited when, after Van Persie had struck the post, Gibbs fed Mikel Arteta and his floated cross was headed home by Bacary Sagna. The home crowd completed their whirlwind first-half journey when Van Persie showcased his touch and technique to beat Friedel with a left-foot curler.

Redknapp and his assistant Joe Jordan clashed verbally with Arsenal fans behind the benches but it was Tottenham's players who needed the hard hats. Yossi Benayoun was denied by Friedel from Arteta's fine pass but moments later the stadium was plunged into frenzy when Rosicky timed his run to convert Sagna's cross.

The scene was cleared for Walcott. His first goal was a beautifully clipped effort after good work from Rosicky and Van Persie and it was as though a switch had been flicked. When Alex Song lofted a pass forward in the 68th minute, Walcott's touch was excellent, his low finish instinctive and unstoppable.

Asked whether the five-goal comeback had given Wenger hope ahead of the return against Milan on Tuesday week, he laughed. Arsenal, though, have demonstrated a taste for the outlandish.

Man of the match Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal)

Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 26 Feb 12

Can we go back to 2011?

2011 might not have been great, but the start to 2012 has been dismal. Whilst most people see the New Year as a fresh start, Arsenal began the year looking fatigued and tired, and in serious need of refreshment.

Hopefully that refreshment will come in the form of a couple of new players, and some enthusiasm and encouraging performances from players in the FA Cup. Despite playing well in the first half against Fulham, the busy Christmas period took its’ toll on the team and they lost all control on the game.

Some of the fundamental mistakes that we hadn’t been making in recent weeks returned at Craven Cottage. The injuries and the red card didn’t help the situation at the back, but both goals that we conceded were avoidable, and came from individual errors. What also made the match immensely frustrating was that the last results of 2011 had all gone in our favour, and a win at Fulham would have put some pressure on those above us, and kept us in the top four. 2011 ended so well, and now at the start 2012, that feels wasted.

The first half at Fulham was good, and we restricted the hosts’ opportunities well. Had we shown more confidence in front of goal, the match could and should have been out of sight for Fulham at half time. Gervinho was a main culprit, but we still should have had a penalty when Senderos tripped him. In a traditionally difficult period of the season when results really are everything, we haven’t been helped by the lack of penalty decisions going our way. In the last five league games, we arguably should have had five penalties that weren’t given. Obviously there are no guarantees that the penalties would have been scored, but they’d have given us a much better chance of winning the games that we dropped points in. It seems that all of our bad luck with refereeing for the season has come at the same time, and at a bad time. Hopefully it’ll balance out later in the season.

Before a match, looking at who the referee is can generally give you a good or bad feeling about the upcoming game, and when seeing Lee Probert was officiating the Fulham match, I didn’t think we’d suffer from dodgy decisions. However there were minor and major ones during the whole game. How Riise swinging himself round Djourou’s legs, and pushing Walcott into the advertising boards aren’t fouls I’m not quite sure. Robin van Persie was also subjected to some strong challenges, and you couldn’t help but feel Neil Warnock’s comments about him at the weekend were in the back of the referee’s mind. Djourou’s first yellow card was justified as he was late and caught Dembele, however Murphy committed a similar, if not worse, foul on Djourou in the second half that didn’t earn a caution. All fans just want consistency. That made the second yellow that Djourou received very frustrating as there was minimal contact with Zamora, and nowhere near enough to pull him down. Djourou wasn’t completely innocent though as he should have been aware that Zamora might fall and should have made sure he didn’t leave himself vulnerable to a situation where the referee could send him off.

Overall, Djourou didn’t have a great match, as it’s clear he isn’t comfortable at full back. However he’s played there enough in recent weeks to be able to do a better job. His positioning might not have always been perfect, but Francis Coquelin put in a fantastic amount of effort as a make shift left back, and someone with the same energy would have been helpful on the right. When Djourou had gone off, I’m still wondering why Sebastien Squillaci came on. He’s out of form and has barely kicked a ball this season, so why not bring on Ignasi Miquel who would have been slightly more tuned in to the pace of the game. Miquel could have gone to the left and the quicker Coquelin could have gone to the right to deal with the dangerous Karim Frei.

Squillaci’s header for Fulham’s winning goal was bizarre to say the least. Surely the basics of defending say head the ball away from your goal, or out of play, and not across the goal. Squillaci chose to head it straight across the goal to claim a good assist for Zamora. It’s very easy to blame him because frankly he hasn’t been very good since we signed him, but in fairness to the Frenchman, he was thrust into a pressured situation for his first league appearance of the season, and had to play in an unfamiliar position. Although when we’re in a serious need of points to get into the top four, there isn’t time to be sympathetic.

The Fulham equaliser also came from an individual error. Wojciech Szczesny has generally been excellent this season, and has put a firm end to all questions about Arsenal needing a new goalkeeper, however he showed he’s still young and learning his trade when he was caught out from a corner. Had that been Almunia, Fabianski or Mannone, fans might have been calling for an immediate replacement, however there is a sense with Szczesny that the mistake was an isolated incident. The Pole hasn’t made the number of mistakes that the other three have, and has the confidence to get over it. While one mistake leads to another for other players, we’ve seen that Szczesny improves following them. You only have to look at his form since the Carling Cup final to know that. Hopefully the same will happen again. In the context of the Fulham match though, his eagerness to come out of goal cost us.

As much as individual errors and refereeing mistakes contributed to the defeat, the bigger problem was how the team, and particularly the midfield, faded massively in the second half. Fulham did improve after the break, but we allowed them the possession to do so, and couldn’t keep it ourselves when Fulham attacks did break down. Arteta and Ramsey both looked knackered, and when they did have the ball, they weren’t able to ping it forward into space for the quicker players to run onto, as they weren’t making themselves available for that type of pass. It would have released pressure and made us dangerous on the counter attack.

Of the quicker players, Walcott in particular had a poor game. He missed the Wolves game because of a virus, and he could still have been feeling the effects in the QPR and Fulham games. If he was struggling, why was he risked in both games when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is waiting in reserve? Rosicky would have been more effective coming on in the centre to replace the tiring players in there, and bringing Oxlade-Chamberlain on would have meant we’d have had the option of pace on the counter attack.

I thought Laurent Kosicelny and Per Mertesacker both played well, and both did their best to hold the lead that Koscielny gave to us. Even though both looked fatigued, they dealt with Fulham’s forwards well. The only time Zamora was given any real space in the box was when he scored at the end, although that was when he was in an area that the inexperienced full-back Coquelin should have been covering, and he only received the ball from Squillaci’s poor header.

The defeat means we haven’t come out of the Christmas period as well as it looked like we would do at the end of 2011. If this is what the rest of 2012 is going to be like, is it too late to go back to 2011?

There is cause for optimism though. The players will have had a full week without a game before we face Leeds in the FA Cup on Monday, and then don’t play for another six days before Swansea, so hopefully they’ll regain some fitness. There will inevitably be some changes for the Leeds match as well, meaning we should be refreshed for Swansea.

The team selection for Leeds will be interesting as there is scope for changes in most areas of the pitch, and it’ll be anyone’s guess as to who lines up at full back. With Sagna supposedly nearing a return, I doubt Arsene Wenger will make a big signing at full back, so we’ll probably see two from Yennaris, Coquelin and Miquel filling those berths against Leeds. Hopefully it’ll be a chance for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to show he’s worth trusting in the Premier League. Yossi Benayoun, Tomas Rosicky and Andrey Arshavin should also all be in contention for starts.

Whilst there is a need for changes, we must take the match seriously. The replay against Leeds in the third round last year added to the fixture congestion, and as we play Manchester United in January, we need the tie dealt with, and our name in the fourth round.

This post has mostly been doom and gloom, but there is one name that makes me want to stay in 2012, and should get all Arsenal fans excited for the first two months of the year, even if not in terms of his current footballing ability, but just as an icon who we want to see in red and white again. Thierry Henry. Enough said. Bring on the next two months Gooners!

Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 5 Jan 12

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain can prove that father knew best at Arsenal

The 17-year-old Southampton winger, who is 'better than Theo Walcott', persuades Arsène Wenger to part with £12m

When Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's father first taught him to kick a ball in the back garden he made sure his son became almost equally adept with both feet. By the time the boy turned seven, such proficiency had helped create a primary school sensation. Throw in a sprinter's turn of pace, augmented by adhesive control for one so young, and it was no surprise that Southampton academy scouts were drawn to Glenhurst school playing fields in Havant.

Although Mark Chamberlain had played for Portsmouth – where he would later become a coach – he harboured no divided loyalties. The former England winger simply felt Southampton academy's was right for his son, a hunch vindicated not only when Alex made his first-team debut at 16 but on Monday, as he joined Arsenal for £12m.

In recent years Gareth Bale, Wayne Bridge and Theo Walcott have emerged from a Southampton junior hothouse which came to the fore during the not overly popular Rupert Lowe's time in charge of the club. It was Lowe who appointed a French youth coach, Georges Prost, to emphasise technique while working with the juniors and even though Prost is now in Qatar, his technical legacy endures.

Oxlade-Chamberlain's eye-catching play in first central midfield and then on the wing soon ensured he stood out from peers who could merely envy his background. Not only did Alex's dad win eight England caps but his uncle, Neville Chamberlain, played in attack for Port Vale and Stoke City.

Both men have rarely tired of reminding him about the need for "end product". Oxlade-Chamberlain benefits from the rare ability to go outside his full-back and hit the byline before unleashing a centre – the youngster can also finish. He scored 11 goals in 43 appearances for Southampton, most coming last season as they won promotion to the Championship.

Slightly stronger on his right side – his preferred wing – but virtually equally capable with his left foot, Oxlade-Chamberlain further wowed scouts courtesy of an acute positional sense allied to the capacity to play with his "head up".

Signficantly the latter two qualities lead some observers to suspect he may eventually revert to a role in midfield. "I've always liked to play as a central midfielder," Oxlade-Chamberlain has said. "But recently I've been playing out wide and I feel happy there."

Whatever his location, the next step is sizeable; especially as Arsenal fans will crave a new hero to replace the soon to be departed Samir Nasri. Yet with not just Arsène Wenger but Sir Alex Ferguson and Kenny Dalglish among long-standing admirers of a creative player who turns 18 next Monday, a Premier League future has long beckoned.

Indeed earlier this year Mark Chamberlain predicted that his son could eclipse Walcott. "I've said I rate him higher than Walcott and everyone looked at me funny," he said. "But, as an all-round technical player, Alex has more to offer."

Paternal pride is, however, coupled with common sense. "I've told Alex it's nice being pretty on the ball but, if you don't have an end product then it's a waste of time," he added.

As a former professional he knows the game's pitfalls and regularly counsels his son against morphing into a Billy Big Boots.

"I'd hate Alex to become one of these young boys you see earning X pounds and acting like they've made it," Chamberlain has said. "He's fine at the moment but we'll keep an eye on him.

"He likes to read about himself in the papers and watch himself playing on television but he's a level-headed boy. After games he doesn't like fuss. Alex just wants to leave the ground and meet his mates."

Source: Loiuse Taylor, The Guardian on 8 Aug 11

Theo Walcott raises the temperature as Arsenal trounce Malaysia

It was Arsène Wenger's triple substitution in the second half that truly raised the temperature. The home crowd had come to see Arsenal's A-listers and they had revelled in an exciting first-half showing from Theo Walcott.

The England winger merely had to pour a bottle of water over his head, when captured on the big screen, to have the supporters roaring. He did much more than that and his precision lob put his team 2-0 up against a poor Malaysia national side.

Yet it was the entrance of Samir Nasri, Robin van Persie and Andrey Arshavin in the 67th minute that set the pulses racing. Nasri occupied a central position behind Van Persie in Wenger's 4-1-4-1, and he might have scored within moments of coming on.

His popularity in these parts has been undimmed by his refusal to sign the new contract on offer at the club and the prospect that he could leave on a Bosman free transfer next summer. It will be interesting to see how the Emirates crowd responds to him but here, there was the comfort of seeing him and his flashy yellow boots in the club strip once more.

Arsenal were 3-0 up by the time that he arrived, with Carlos Vela scoring the pick of the goals, a sumptuously cheeky clip over the goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat. Tomas Rosicky, another substitute, added the fourth in injury time from Arshavin's deflected cross.

Arsenal's players had managed to cope with the clammy heat and their appearance will be long remembered by the 65,000 fans in attendance. To general delight, they threw caps into the crowd after the game.

It was difficult to overstate just how hot it felt inside the stadium, which can hold up to 100,000 fans. At the 8.45pm kick-off time, when the draining humidity was factored in, the temperature was 37C. Arsenal's players had only been in the country for a little over 48 hours, after the 13-hour flight from London across seven time zones. This was a pre-season baptism of fire.

In the absence of Cesc Fábregas, who is recovering from injury and/or bound for Barcelona, Wenger used the same formation with which he had finished last season, when the captain was injured and merely set to embark on the latest Barcelona tedium. Alex Song shielded the back four, with Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey in front of him, behind the lone striker, Marouane Chamakh.

Arsenal scored early on when Wilshere drove into the penalty area and nicked the ball ahead of Mohd Aidil Zafuan. The defender duly lunged in and sent Wilshere sprawling. Ramsey kept his cool from the penalty spot. When the ball hit the net for each of Arsenal's goals, there were plenty of Malaysian supporters out of their seats. Although the home team enjoyed the vocal support, roughly half of the crowd were clad in Arsenal colours. They gloried in stepovers, flicks or any sort of flair. Vela took the prize as the consummate showman.

Wenger played Carl Jenkinson, the £1m signing from Charlton Athletic, and Ryo Miyaichi, the Japanese midfield prospect, who did well on loan at Feyenoord last season. Jenkinson looks too tall to be an Arsenal player, let alone a right-back. He was caught out of position on occasion but he made several solid challenges. Miyaichi's technique is eye-catching. Jenkinson and Miyaichi were two of only three Arsenal players who were not substituted at the interval. Ramsey was the other.

Ramsey missed a one-on-one chance in the second-half before Vela's moment of magic. Arsenal's pre-season is up and running.

Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 13 Jul 11

Arsenal finish in fourth place despite Theo Walcott leveller at Fulham

Cesc Fábregas probably knew what he was missing. The Arsenal captain raised questions about his leadership qualities by choosing to go to watch the Spanish Grand Prix rather than his team's final match of the season. In doing so he spared himself from witnessing a low-key affair in which familiar failings were again exposed.

The sedateness of the game suggested that Arsenal did not truly believe they had a chance of overtaking Manchester City and regaining third place in the table and a shortcut to next season's Champions League group stages and their defensive frailty reminded them why their ambitions for the season were not achieved. Though this match at times felt like a bout of end-of-season sparring, Arsenal's centre-backs, Thomas Vermaelen and Johan Djourou, were often tormented by the power of Bobby Zamora and the pace of Andy Johnson.

Zamora was instrumental in Fulham's first goal in the 26th minute. After Clint Dempsey set him running free down the right, the striker ,cut the ball back to Steve Sidwell, who slotted it under Wojciech Szczesny from eight yards. Arsenal equalised almost immediately thanks to a move involving three players who had done nothing up to that point and would do little after it. Abou Diaby exchanged a snappy one-two with Marouane Chamakh before sliding the ball through for Robin van Persie, who fired low and hard into the net from 16 yards.

When Jonathan Greening shuffled into the box from the left in the 56th minute Zamora drifted cleverly between the inattentive Djourou and Vermaelen and to meet his team-mate's dainty cross. Arsène Wenger's side were given a boost when Fulham were reduced to 10 men following a reckless two-footed tackle by Zoltan Gera on Vermaelen - they must wait for the Football Association to assess all referee reports before finding out if that red card makes them drop down Uefa's fair play league and, therefore, give England's extra Europa League spot to Blackpool.

"We've been told we have to wait until Friday to find out," said the Fulham manager, Mark Hughes. "It would be nice to get there because qualifying for Europe on top of finishing eighth in the league would cap an excellent season for us." Although Theo Walcott came off the bench to strike a fine 89th-minute equaliser for Arsenal, Wenger did not pretend that it had been an excellent season for his team.

"Three weeks ago we were in a position to win the league so we are hugely disappointed with fourth place," he said.

"We have to rectify things in some areas next season. If we can find the right players we will spend money."

Source: Paul Doyle, The Guardian on 22 May 11

Walcott's late leveller

Arsenal's season of frustration ended with a 2-2 draw at 10-man Fulham, which will leave the Gunners having to qualify for the Champions League.

Steve Sidwell had swept the hosts in front in the 26th minute, only for Robin van Persie to quickly equalise.

Bobby Zamora nodded the Cottagers back into the lead just before the hour with substitute Zoltan Gera shown a straight red card two minutes after coming on - but a late goal from Theo Walcott earned Arsenal a point as they finished fourth in the Premier League behind FA Cup winners Manchester City.

The Gunners had won just twice in their previous 10 league matches as a campaign which promised so much quickly fell apart after defeat in the Carling Cup final against Birmingham at Wembley.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger left the field to chants of "spend some money'' from the travelling support, who will expect much better next time around.

Fulham saw most of the ball during the opening exchanges at a blustery Craven Cottage.

When Jack Wilshere - the centre of a club-versus-country row over his proposed inclusion in the Under-21s European Championship squad - did pick out Samir Nasri with a chip into the Fulham box in the 10th minute the Frenchman, just back from a hamstring injury, could only loop a tame header goalwards.

Arsenal's defence, so often their Achilles heel this season, played a very high line and were almost caught out when Andrew Johnson scampered clear, but was called back by a tight offside flag.

The visitors almost snatched the lead when Bacary Sagna whipped over a deep cross to the far post, where fellow full-back Kieran Gibbs' downward header was clawed away by Mark Schwarzer, who came close to joining the Gunners in the summer.

Fulham took the lead in the 26th minute when Arsenal defender Johan Djourou played Zamora onside as the England striker scampered away down the right before cutting the ball back to Sidwell, who drilled home from six yards.

The lead, though, did not last long.

Abou Diaby, so often an under-performer this season, won the ball in midfield, before playing a neat one-two with Marouane Chamakh to release Van Persie on the edge of the Fulham area.

The in-form Dutchman needed no second invitation, killing the pass with his first touch before dispatching a low strike into the bottom left corner to level on 29 minutes and take his tally to nine in consecutive away games.

Arsenal were, however, soon back on the defensive.

Thomas Vermaelen produced a brilliant goal-line tackle after Danny Murphy had barged into the six-yard box and stabbed the ball past Wojciech Szczesny.

At the start of the second half, Van Persie was booked for protesting after referee Martin Atkinson failed to award a foul when he was checked by Brede Hangeland.

Schwarzer denied Arsenal again with another fine save, this time turning Nasri's goalbound free-kick over the crossbar.

Fulham were back in the lead after 57 minutes when Jonathan Greening darted into the left side of the Arsenal box, before chipping the ball across goal where Zamora nodded in at the near post.

Szczesny was off his line quickly to deny Zamora the chance to poke home a third as Arsenal were on the back foot.

There was a let-off for Fulham, though, when Schwarzer spilled Van Persie's right-wing cross, but Chamakh could only stab the loose ball wide.

Arsenal made a triple substitution on 64 minutes, replacing Aaron Ramsey with Walcott, Diaby with Andrey Arshavin and Gibbs with Emmanuel Eboue.

With news filtering through of Manchester City taking a 2-0 lead at Bolton, Arsenal looked certain to finish fourth.

Arshavin almost released Wilshere with a neat pass, but the ball just ran away from the England youngster.

With 20 minutes left, Zamora, appearing to be carrying an injury, was replaced by Gera, who looks set to leave at the end of his contract this summer.

The Hungarian was soon walking off again however after his lunging two-foot challenge on Vermaelen was punished with a straight red card on 74 minutes.

With Fulham hoping to stay high in the Fair Play League table, and earn a chance at European football again in the summer, it could yet prove a costly dismissal.

Arshavin flashed a low drive just wide, before Walcott levelled in the final minute when his shot went in off the far post.

Source: ESPN Soccernet on 22 May 11

Arsenal's Theo Walcott misses cup final, Cesc Fábregas a major doubt

Arsenal face an injury crisis for Sunday's Carling Cup final after Theo Walcott was ruled out with a sprained ankle suffered in last night's 1-0 win over Stoke City and Cesc Fábregas emerged as a major doubt after going off with a hamstring problem.

Arsène Wenger hopes to discover on Thursday whether Fábregas will be able to play after his captain was withdrawn early in the first half. With Robin van Persie and Laurent Koscielny – who were missing against Stoke – awaiting fitness tests on Friday the manager may have to field a team against Birmingham City at Wembley missing five frontline players, because Thomas Vermaelen is a long-term absentee.

After a victory that was sealed by Sébastien Squillaci's first-half header and took Arsenal to within a point of Manchester United at the top of the Premier League, Wenger said: "Walcott has an ankle sprain. For how long he is out, I cannot tell you. For Sunday, he is definitely out. Fábregas [has] a hamstring problem. We will assess that tomorrow. Tonight it is impossible to say how serious it is."

It would be a major setback to Arsenal to lose Walcott or Fábregas for an extended period as they enter a crucial sequence of fixtures. They hope to win their first trophy since 2005 on Sunday and among the games that follow over the next three weeks are a Champions League last-16 second leg at Barcelona, an FA Cup replay against Leyton Orient and a possible Cup quarter-final tie at Manchester United.

Fábregas's recent career has been blighted by hamstring troubles, which have already disrupted his season. He wrote on Twitter: "I dont know if I'll make Sunday or no, but all I know is that from this moment to Sunday 16:30 I won't sleep if it's necessary. I've waited too long to captain a final for Arsenal and I won't give up till the last second."

Wenger said: "It is of course a concern that he is injured but it can happen, unfortunately. He was very upset. I am as well. It is not his fault, it is not my fault, it is part of sport." Had it been a tackle that forced Fábregas off after 14 minutes? "No. It's strange that it happens so early in the game. We have to face it," Wenger said.

Regarding Walcott, whose pace was a threat before a second-half coming together with Dean Whitehead led to him being taken off on a stretcher, Wenger said: "I don't know what to answer [to how he is feeling]. He is disappointed of course."

When the teams met a year ago a Ryan Shawcross challenge on Aaron Ramsey broke the midfielder's leg and created bitter feeling between Wenger and Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager. Wenger had no complaints last night. "Overall the game was played in a good spirit. I cannot complain. It was committed with strong challenges but overall correct. I don't have an issue with Stoke or any aspect of their game. It is a team that you know that you have to prepare mentally before you go into this game as you won't take the points if you don't do that."

"Nobody likes to play against Stoke as they have a special way of playing the game but for me, tonight, they defended very intelligently for 90 minutes. They were very disciplined and denied us space. When we found a little bit of space, they quickly cut it off again and we could not take advantage. I was quite surprised how intelligent they were."

Wenger hailed how his team had overcome the early loss of Fábregas. "We have matured certainly as [we] can win tonight when we are less creative but with intelligence, braveness and calm. That is what has changed," he said. "One [or] two years ago when we were not on our top game we dropped points. Tonight the team realised that we must not make a mistake. We must give credit to the players."

Regarding the title race he said: "It was night when nobody else played [in the Premier League]. On a night like that, if you can take advantage, and take three points, [get] closer to the top, it means your team is really hungry for success."

Manchester United face Wigan Athletic on Saturday and then Chelsea next Tuesday in the league. Asked whether they are now under pressure Wenger said: "This is the period where everyone is under pressure. Chelsea is under pressure. Man United is under pressure. That is part of being in this position. Three months ago when we lost here against Newcastle who gave us chance to be in the top four? We have come back in a strong position and I am not complaining. I am happy to be in this position."

Source: Jamie Jackson, The Guardian on 23 Feb 11

Arsenal's Theo Walcott out of Carling Cup final with ankle injury

Arsenal may now be only a point behind Manchester United but the full cost is yet to be confirmed after injuries to Theo Walcott and Cesc Fábregas on what ended as a frustrating evening for Arsène Wenger's team following the brightest of starts.

Arsenal's next outings are Sunday's Carling Cup final against Birmingham City, an FA Cup fifth-round replay on Wednesday and the visit of Sunderland in the league, before travelling to Barcelona for the return leg of the Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday 8 March.

Wenger, then, will pray that Walcott, who definitely misses the Wembley final, can recover from his ankle sprain quickly and that Fábregas's hamstring does not rule him out of the team to face Birmingham and beyond, though he is a big doubt for Sunday.

There had been scant hint of what was to unfold after Arsenal had taken 90 seconds to illustrate that they were in slick working order, and eight minutes to breach the visiting defence.

Their opening move featured Jack Wilshere marauding forward then linking with Fábregas sweetly on the edge of Stoke's area. The Spaniard delivered a perfect pass to place Walcott in behind the defence and he unloaded a shot that beat Asmir Begovic but smacked off his right-hand post and safely into the goalkeeper's hands.

Then came what proved to be the winner. From a corner on the right, Wilshere's left boot flicked in the delivery and though Ryan Shawcross stuck his head on the ball the possession was moved on to Nicklas Bendtner, who was lurking beyond the far post. He scooped the ball back on to the head of Sébastien Squillaci, who was stationed in front of the goal, and the central defender scored his first league goal since joining last summer.

Fábregas's problem occurred after 14 minutes and he was replaced by Andrey Arshavin, which meant Samir Nasri moving inside from the left to occupy the central position and the Russian taking up the place on the wing.

While this did not cause any break in Arsenal's hold over possession, it did stunt their dynamism, with many attacks becoming static around Stoke's 18-yard line. One move resulted in the passes accumulating and ended with Arshavin attempting a shot that hardly threatened to double the score. This was as encouraging as it got for a side who were then offered a reminder of the effectiveness of more direct play after 33 minutes.

Thus far, John Carew's contribution had been tapping Wilshere's ankles and little else. But a powerful 25-yard volley from City's lone striker forced Wojciech Szczesny to fling himself across goal to save, a clear warning for Arsenal that they had to maintain focus.

Wenger's men closed the half virtually becalmed. Nasri stepped up to pull a free-kick wide but beyond Tony Pulis complaining after Jonathan Walters was booked for fouling Walcott, Fábregas's exit had slowly drained the contest of quality and incident.

At the interval Wenger would surely have warned his team to be more ruthless, Pulis that his Stoke players could still get a goal and a point, or even better.

A year ago the sides had met in the reverse fixture and a Shawcross challenge on Aaron Ramsey left the midfielder with a leg broken and enmity between the two managers: after a quiet first half the emotion now began bubbling.

This started with Carew and Johan Djourou having a tame clash near the corner flag that drew abuse from the home support, something which was only heightened when Peter Walton refused to book the Norwegian.

Djourou played a crucial role in stopping the next Stoke attack. Jermaine Pennant collected possession from a throw, motored down the right flank, then delivered the cross on to Shawcross's head. It was on target but the ball hit Djourou and went wide.

Arsenal had played the opening 15 minutes of the second half incapable of breaking beyond halfway while Robert Huth came close to an equaliser when the Rory Delap slingshot delivered the ball perfectly in to Arsenal's area. But though the Stoke defender rose above a melee of players, his header was steered over.

Now, though, a difficult evening for Wenger and company was about to become worse. Walcott's coming together with Dean Whitehead ended with the Arsenal forward being carried off on a stretcher with an ankle strain. Wenger could not resist a jibe regarding one of Stoke's prime tactics. "I wonder if we should not change the rules because the throw-ins, just after halfway, are in the box," he said.

Pulis said: "In the first 10 minutes we looked like rabbits in the headlights."

Source: Jamie Jackson, The Guardian on 23 Feb 11

Theo Walcott backs Arsenal to be first side to beat United in league

Theo Walcott has backed Arsenal to become the first side to win at Old Trafford this season, claiming Arsène Wenger's team have no fear ahead of their top-of-the-table encounter with Manchester United on Monday.

Arsenal head the table by a point from United, who have a game in hand. Walcott said: "Manchester United have not lost in the league this season so hopefully we can be the first to beat them. And we need to get a few points ahead of teams. United have got that game in hand against Blackpool, so we want to overcome that and stay at the top of the league. We have been at the top of the league in previous years and we have not stayed there."

He added: "We must go to Old Trafford and play with no fear. We must enjoy ourselves and express ourselves. Then, our best performance will come out. United are not playing their best but are still there. Hopefully we won't catch them on a good day. But we have new players in the squad – we have been quite lucky with injuries – and hopefully we will have Cesc [Fábregas] back." Wenger rates the Spanish midfielder's chances of featuring at 50% because of hamstring problems.

The England forward, who made his 150th Arsenal appearance in the Champions League win over Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday, said: "Our away form [five wins from eight league outings] at the moment is fantastic. We find it quite comfortable. This is another test for us - a big test. But we did it at Manchester City [3-0] and so hopefully we can do it there.

"As long as we don't lose. That's very important for us. We hardly picked up any points against the bigger clubs last season [lost home and away to United and Chelsea] but this season everyone is beating each other."

Asked whether Arsenal's failure to beat United or Chelsea in the last campaign was a mental issue or that Wenger's team were just not good enough, Walcott said: "The better teams have won. We may play fantastic football but if you don't get it in the back of the net you're not going to win."

Walcott entered Arsenal's final Champions League group game in the 73rd minute with the score at 1-1 and conscious that another goal from the Serbs could knock them out of the competition. But the 21-year-old scored within four minutes. "It is always frustrating being on the bench, ask any player - it is not just me," he said. "But it comes to the point when you do not want to dwell on it all the time. You just want to come off the bench, show what you can do and try and get back in the team. And this season, I have come back [from injury] and the team has been playing well and winning so that is difficult to get back in . Hopefully, I have shown what I can do."

Arsenal finished runners-up in Group H. Now, with Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Schalke the potential opponents when the draw is made tomorrow week, have the Gunners made further progress more difficult for themselves? "If you want to be the best you have to play the best and go one step further. If we do get Barcelona, we don't want [Lionel] Messi to do what he did to us last season [all four goals in a 4-1 win]. I'd love to go back there and show them what we are all about. We have now got great experience to progress. We want to win some silverware for the fans. They have waited too long.

"As long as we don't get Barcelona on a day like they played Real Madrid [5-0 winners last week] - they were fantastic. But it doesn't matter. We will play anyone, enjoy ourselves and try and win the game."

Source: Jamie Jackson, The Guardian on 9 Dec 10

Theo Walcott calms Arsenal nerves to secure win over Partizan Belgrade

Arsenal's closest contest was with themselves. Partizan Belgrade were also involved, yet the interest lay with Arsène Wenger's team and their quest for reliability. The visitors have taken no points in group H while conceding 13 goals but there were spells here in which they had hope. Unless Arsenal find mercilessness within themselves they will be at risk.

It is not a coincidence that, in contrast to Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, they have failed to top their group. The lack of authority was reflected as well in the red card for Bacary Sagna after he had committed a professional foul in the 86th minute when Aleksandar Lazevski was about to break into the penalty area. The Champions League knockout phase will have to start without the suspended right-back.

If Arsenal cannot yet seem to keep a game under full control, even when a vulnerable side such as Partizan comes to the Emirates, there was still an aplomb to them in the distinguished way they re-established the lead after Cleo had equalised in the 52nd minute. The sole goal in open play for Partizan in this group arose because defenders backed away and the Brazilian forward relished the opportunity to shoot, with the drive deflecting off Sebastién Squillaci to leave Lukasz Fabianski stranded.

He had also scored his side's other goal, from the penalty spot, against Arsenal in Belgrade. While Wenger's men were obviously shaken by the leveller at the Emirates, there was wonderful individualism to restore composure to the whole line-up. Theo Walcott had come on as a substitute but this was not an occasion for his speed simply to be pitted against a wearying side. He restored the lead with a gleaming piece of technique.

Walcott struck in the 73rd minute. Sagna's cross was headed poorly on to his chest by Marko Jovanovic and the forward clipped a considered volley into the far corner of the net. The technique was outstanding and perhaps indicated that Walcott can still add a greater breadth to his game that will fulfil the promise he had as a teenager and restore him to being a more regular starter.

That kind of dramatic action was, by then, a necessity rather than a mere adornment. Calm was not fully restored until the third Arsenal goal came from Samir Nasri, after Alex Song and Nicklas Bendtner had combined. It had been beyond the side to open the match with a briskness that would have made the entire exercise simpler.

The apparent challenge of the game was then at so low a level that Arsenal could hardly bring themselves to rise above the ordinary. They may have been justified in supposing that a goal for them was unavoidable. The opportunity came after Sagna's delivery had deflected to Robin van Persie, who was then brought down needlessly by a challenge from Jovanovic. The Dutchman converted the penalty after 30 minutes with a confidence appropriate in a match were the opposition was so limited.

In spells it felt ludicrous that there could be any trace of stress. At the moment Partizan might almost exist to demonstrate how great a difference there can be between domestic and European competition. They lead the Serbian Super League by five points after scoring 41 goals in 15 games. In the Champions League they have floundered.

At first it was only bad luck that made Arsenal wince. The left-back Kieran Gibbs caught his foot in the pitch and eventually had to make way for Emmanuel Eboué. Credit did have to go to Partizan for denying Arsenal total contentment before the interval. They defended with more purpose than anyone could have anticipated as they strove to complete their Champions League campaign in a dignified way.

There was no suggestion of a spree for Arsenal before half-time. The moves tended to have marginal flaws but Wenger himself had not introduced any complacency. The selection confirmed that this was an encounter that had to be treated with the utmost seriousness. There have been other fixtures that have seen Arsenal lack professionalism and suffer for it.

Partizan's endeavour did them credit after the miseries that had been endured previously. Disbelief may have hindered Wenger's team after the equaliser and the reaction was not immediately ferocious. It was Partizan, with nothing to lose any more in the Champions League, who showed the ambition and moments of style that had looked beyond them until now.

More hardened sides than Arsenal would not have permitted such a night to contain anything more than a thorough and uncomplicated victory. That, all the same, is part of the appeal at the Emirates. Nobody can be quite sure what they are witnessing.

Arsenal, in their own fashion, are a club of means and, troubling though this match was in periods, the manager still allowed Jack Wilshere some rest as the youngster was an unused substitute.

As with their north London foes Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal exude a sense that something new is emerging. The last 16 of this tournament will tell us more about the true worth of both clubs.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 8 Dec 10

Walcott and Nasri settle nerves

Arsenal moved into the last 16 of the Champions League with a laboured 3-1 win over Group H whipping boys Partizan Belgrade at Emirates Stadium.

Successive away defeats to Shakhtar Donetsk and Braga had left the Gunners - who opened their European campaign with three straight victories - still needing a result to secure safe passage through to the knockout stages for the 11th successive season.

After a lacklustre start, Robin van Persie fired the home side ahead from the penalty spot - his first goal of the season - and after Cleo had netted a shock equaliser, substitute Theo Walcott volleyed Arsenal back into the lead before man-of-the-moment Samir Nasri swept home a third.

Arsenal finished the game with 10 men when defender Bacary Sagna was shown a red card for a professional foul on 85 minutes.

Despite maintaining a 100% home record, Arsene Wenger knows those poor away performances could yet come back to haunt his side, who finished runners-up to Shakhtar and so will face either Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Schalke in the last 16.

Van Persie, taking the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Cesc Fabregas, was deployed in a deeper role behind Marouane Chamakh, with Nasri out wide but with a license to roam.

However, despite having plenty of possession, Arsenal lacked any real creativity while Almami Moreira looked lively for the visitors, whose only goal in the Champions League so far had come against Arsenal in Belgrade.

Nasri - whose fine brace against Fulham had sent Arsenal top of the Barclays Premier League on Saturday - crafted an opening from the right when his cross was headed over by Chamakh.

On 15 minutes, full-back Kieran Gibbs turned his ankle badly and was taken off on a stretcher, but managed to return to the action only to eventually be replaced by Emmanuel Eboue.

As the half-hour mark approached, Arsenal - who travel to Manchester United on Monday night - were gifted the opening goal when Marko Jovanovic upended van Persie after Alex Song had burst into the Partizan penalty area.

The Dutchman took the spot-kick himself to fire home his first goal since the final day of last season.

Partizan - nicknamed the Steamrollers and who had lost all five European ties so far - could easily have let their heads drop, but continued to try to attack. Brazilian striker Cleo got clear down the right, but his cross into the danger zone was hacked away.

Van Persie played in Chamakh when he capitalised on a mistake by captain Mladen Krstajic, but for once this season the 10-goal Moroccan got the ball stuck under his feet and keeper Vladimir Stojkovic collected.

Given his current form, Nasri would have been expected to bury the ball when it dropped to him from van Persie's knockdown some 10 yards out at the start of the second half - but the French midfielder fired his shot high over the bar.

Arsenal's defensive frailties were exposed again when Partizan scored a shock equaliser on 52 minutes. The ball was worked down the left and then through to Cleo, some 20 yards out. He was given the space to turn and fire a shot goalwards, which deflected off the lunging Sebastien Squillaci and looped over Lukasz Fabianski.

The atmosphere was flat as the home fans became somewhat anxious another disappointment lay ahead. With 24 minutes left, Wenger looked to inject fresh life into the attack as he sent on Walcott, replacing the ineffective Andrey Arshavin.

The England winger was blocked on the edge of the area by Krstajic, which earned the Partizan skipper a yellow card. Nasri whipped the free-kick over the wall, with Stojkovic making a fingertip save.

The keeper, though, could do little as, on 73 minutes, Walcott lobbed the ball into the far corner after it fell to him on the right side of the area.

Chamakh was replaced by Nicklas Bendtner and the Dane had a hand in Arsenal's third after a neat exchange of passes with Song on the edge of the area fed Nasri - and the Frenchman sidestepped his marker as he swept the ball into the far corner.

There was late drama as Sagna was sent off for tripping Alexander Lazevski after being deemed last man by Italian referee Paolo Tagliavento.

Radosav Petrovic struck the free-kick, right on the edge of the area, goalwards - but Fabianski made a fine save.

Source: ESPN Soccernet on 8 Dec 10

Walcott confident ahead of City test

Theo Walcott is confident Arsenal can stop big-spending Manchester City in their tracks at Eastlands on Sunday.

Arsenal face another stern test of their title credentials against City, whose owners have bankrolled an unprecedented spending spree in an attempt to become the dominant force in the Premier League.

The extraordinary investment appears to be paying off this season, as Roberto Mancini's men head into the weekend's fixtures just two points behind leaders Chelsea, three in front of Arsenal.

However, Walcott - fit again after suffering ankle ligament damage while on international duty for England against Switzerland in September - feels the Gunners can use the momentum from their midweek 5-1 Champions League demolition of Shakhtar Donetsk to get a result against the Blues.

"Man City have some fantastic players, but we have just to take the positives from the Shakhtar game and I am sure we will be fine," Walcott said. "They are starting to gel now and so only time will tell where they can be.

"Beating Chelsea at their place shows City are very strong, and against Blackpool they showed that they can grind out a result. Hopefully, though, we can stutter their season and try to get a win for us."

He added: "What is good for the Premier League is that you really do not know what is going to happen every week. It is very open now and is going to be very tight this season.

"We are only five points behind. We always want to be part of the title race and to be on that podium at the end of the season."

Walcott has been plagued by a succession of injury set-backs, which arguably cost him a place in the World Cup squad, but he is not going to let it play on his mind as he looks to terrorise defenders with his pace.

"I am a player who gets kicked all the time, so I just have to get up from it and move on. That is all you can do. Hopefully through training I can get back to the physical side of things with my ankle - I have only been whacked on it once so probably need a couple more just to make sure it is okay.

"I am sure I will take a few whacks and bruises, but I am sure I will be fine."

Source: ESPN Soccernet on 23 Oct 10

I don't blame Fabio Capello for World Cup snub, says Theo Walcott

Theo Walcott is showing the maturity off the field and potency on it that can make him a vital asset for England

It was curious to see the swift Theo Walcott left standing. England set off without him for the World Cup finals earlier this summer and that must have been particularly galling since it had probably been the impetus of his hat-trick against Croatia in September 2008 that swept the side to South Africa.

If there is any feeling that he deserved better, the Arsenal attacker conceals it well. The 21-year-old Walcott could simply be mollified now that he is back in the ranks of the national team and, having started in the friendly with Hungary last month, looks set to be a key element in the first Euro 2012 qualifier, against Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday.

There is no sign that he ever did feel wronged by Fabio Capello, a manager who, after all, had been ready to trust the teenage Walcott. The forward has just suffered from a slightly jumbled development. Having taught Croatia a lesson as a 19-year-old, he then had to undergo the education that should help sustain his career.

With four goals in three appearances with Arsenal in this campaign he has already equalled his tally for the whole of last season. His target of scoring between 10 and 15 for the club is realistic, but tributes no longer come so readily. Alan Hansen, echoing an earlier complaint by Chris Waddle, was critical of Walcott's decision-making even after the Arsenal player's hat-trick against Blackpool in the recent 6-0 drubbing.

Walcott has at least learned how to be both diplomatic and wry. He expressed his love of the television highlights while dealing humorously with the punditry. "I'm sitting on my own watching Match Of The Day, watching the goals go in," he said while describing his habits, "and then go off and make myself a cup of tea."

If his kitchen is a refuge it might have seen rather a lot of him earlier this summer. He is mature enough to admit being angry at missing out on the World Cup. "Yes of course," Walcott said. "It's always disappointing. You want to play in the biggest competitions in the world. You want to play against the best. And you want to play for England. But I couldn't point fingers at anyone. I had to blame myself because the form wasn't there at the end of the season and I just wanted to make sure it didn't happen again."

There is a degree of self-examination in Walcott's comments and it is, for instance, the player who emphasises that his only goals for his country in a dozen appearances to date came in that encounter with Croatia. He is frank, too, about the necessary work he is putting in to improve his final ball and his understanding with the Arsenal right-back, Bacary Sagna.

At the same time Walcott does seem sure of himself as a menace to defenders. "When I was 17 or 18," he reflected, "if I got kicked I probably would have stayed down. Now I get up. And that's when the full-back thinks 'I'm going to have a torrid day today'. That's what I've got to do. If I do get kicked, if I get hurt, I've just got to get up from it."

He makes light of the injuries that sidelined him and led to inconsistency when he was on the field. Aaron Lennon was preferred for the World Cup, but now he is the one left out by Capello amid concerns about the Tottenham Hotspur winger's current form and fitness. Walcott is not in the mood to view his exclusion from the campaign in South Africa as any sort of blessing even if it was ignominious for those who did make the squad.

"I would still have loved to have gone," Walcott says stubbornly. There is an independent streak to him and reference to the rout of Croatia does not induce sentimental happiness. "I wasn't really involved much," he argues. "I just scored a hat-trick."

He is more conscious of the scope for development. "My involvement in general play is getting much better now," he said. "It has been up and down but I have been in the limelight since I was 16. I have been around for a very long time. I am 21 now. It has come right for me this season. You need to mix your game. For Arsenal especially I have been coming inside a bit more and getting on the goal sheet."

He then spoke about the need for staying wide. That was not so much a contradiction as a suggestion of the variety a footballer needs to respond to the demands of particular fixtures. "If I stay out wide I can drag a couple of people with me," Walcott said. "When a winger is not involved [directly], they can still be involved by taking other players out of the game to create more space for the likes of Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney [with England]."

He is still far from being a counterpart to his great Arsenal predecessor Thierry Henry, but is at least a player whose style can evolve. England's recovery from the 2010 World Cup will indeed depend on the personal progress made by relatively young players such as Walcott.

Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 31 Aug 10

Theo Walcott scores a netbuster as Arsenal overcome dogged Blackburn

Fabio Capello was at Ewood Park to watch Theo Walcott – he could hardly have been interested in anyone else in the starting line-ups – and he will have been pleased by what he saw.

Walcott scored an excellent goal in the first half and was unlucky not to add a second near the end with a confident drive from outside the area that only just cleared Paul Robinson's bar. The England manager will not be concerned at whether Walcott has a football brain or not, to quote the debate started by Chris Waddle last season, he will just have noted that he is running, shooting and finishing with poise and confidence.

Both sides could have scored in a frantic opening to an open game. Arsenal were unlucky not to go in front in the third minute when Abou Diaby's shot through a crowded penalty area was stopped on the line by Vince Grella, who was relieved to see the rebound cannon from his shin on to Robinson's shin then out to safety rather than off the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Then, after Blackburn Rovers applied some pressure and won a couple of corners, Ryan Nelsen's goalbound header was headed off the line by Cesc Fábregas.

It took a good interception by Chris Samba to prevent Fábregas sending Walcott clear a couple of minutes later, although Blackburn's respite was brief. Robin van Persie took a pass from Andrey Arshavin and found Walcott quite brilliantly with a diagonal ball behind Gaël Givet, and the finishing prowess evident last week against Blackpool was displayed again as the winger strode on to the ball and clipped a low, early shot past Robinson's dive. Walcott found Robinson's bottom-right corner so perfectly, in fact, that the side-netting needed a minor repair at half-time. He had gone for placement rather than power yet still managed to split the net.

Unlike a few of their north-west neighbours, Blackburn are not the sort of side to lie down and take a hammering, however, and although Arsenal briefly threatened to run riot they found themselves defending for most of the rest of the half following a smartly taken equaliser. Rovers now boast two Dioufs in their ranks, Manchester United's Mame Biram having arrived on a season's loan to join the already established El Hadji, and Laurent Koscielny in particular will not forget the way they combined in the 26th minute.

Seizing on to Samba's clearance El Hadji took on the French defender on the outside and won hands down, staying on his feet in spite of a heavy challenge and supplying a cut-back from the byline that Mame Biram needed only to tap into the net. Big, strong and mobile with an ability to deliver a good cross as well as get on the end of one, the new Diouf looks exactly Sam Allardyce's sort of player, and when Benjani joins the attack – he has signed for a year after his contract expired at Manchester City – Blackburn should be able to bother quite a few defences.

Arsenal's attack lost some of its sharpness when Van Persie went off with a leg injury just past half an hour after a firm but fair tackle by Phil Jones, although the visitors were still potent enough to take the lead again early in the second half. Bacary Sagna got away down the right to set up Fábregas for a shot that was blocked, and as Robinson left his line to claim the rebound he was beaten to the ball by a determined Arshavin. Blackburn could not manage a second equaliser.

The substitute David Dunn had the best opportunity 10 minutes from time but having made space for a shot he directed it straight at Manuel Almunia. When Arsenal had a chance to make it three right at the end with Walcott unselfishly setting up Jack Wilshere, Robinson denied the young England hopeful. Capello was probably on his way to Blackpool by then.

Source: Paul Wilson, The Guardian on 28 Aug 10