Arsene Wenger has moved to praise Theo Walcott in a big way, admitting he is a priority to Arsenal for a number of reasons.
The England international has been a regular starter for the Gunners this season, and has repaid the faith with a number of impressive displays, including 19 goals in all competitions thus far.
The Arsenal boss has now moved to praise the winger, whilst revealing he is sometimes substituted simply to avoid injury following a number of unlucky sufferings, and claims he is especially strong mentally.
Wenger said: “If you look at his career, Theo can respond to disappointment with good focus. He had a very bad injury and he came back. In 2006, he was in the World Cup squad but he has not been since – and we are in 2017 now.
“That means he can deal with disappointment.
“I have substituted him many times but it is like that with every player. Sometimes I sub him because we want something different in the game.
“For example, the other night against West Ham I subbed him. Given what has happened to him during his career, when the job was done I took him off because you don’t need a stupid injury with 10, 15 minutes to go.
He added: “He responds to challenges. It’s the only way he knows. He’s a guy who cares and wants to do well. He has a huge level of focus.
“I looked at his numbers the other day and he has played wide since the start of the season, has played 20 games in the Premier League and scored 10 goals. For a wide player that’s quite positive.
“Theo has improved his defensive commitment a lot compared to what it was before. He was sometimes a bit less focused on the teamwork.
“He shows huge commitment on a daily basis.
“I give a little bit of priority to the guys who know the Arsenal values, those who have been here for a long time. For me, loyalty plays a part when it comes to representing a club – and Theo has been very loyal.
“When we’ve renegotiated contracts he has always given priority to that. I was surprised he was left out by England but there is competition there now.
“You have a young generation coming through, with the likes of Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford.
“Jack Wilshere was left out and Walcott was left out – they are usually the people who are always in there. But Theo has the determination and quality to get back in there.”
Walcott has been a stigma for criticism on a number of occasions for Arsenal fans, but does he finally deserve to be a first-team regular? Can you understand why Wenger rates him so highly?
Pat J
Yes I can . I am always pleased to see his name on the team sheet. He has scored some important goals for us
So far….Looks Like all the top teams, midtable teams have won their matches this week
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Let’s see the outcome of Arsenal-palace
There is no other in team in the epl who would give walcott the kind of money and treatment arsenal gives to him.
Arsenal is trully paradise city to underperformers and losers. Starting with Wenger board and players.
The ones who take the piç* are only the fans who are being punished for being stupid
bit melodramatic if i may say so. look at uniteds team, lingards on the same as walcot, he he hasnt done nearly as much
Lingaard has stayed for 10 years.
Translation
Walcott doesn’t want to leave (he’s on a fortune which no one else would pay)
Sanchez will be leaving ( for trophies and more pay)
Walcott will take his place with goals and hard work
P
Sarcasm at it’s finest
When someone who isn’t close to being world class is paid £140,000 per week (Lewandowski earns £160,000 euros per week) he would be crazy to leave
Walcott is a decent player and I don’t mind him staying BUT his salary is ridiculous
If Arsenal tells us we can’t afford to pay a WC player £250,000 per week, I will be really angry because we shouldn’t pay non-WC players WC salaries
This is prob the best reply I read.
His wages are high and he isn’t the only one who wouldn’t have been paid so handsomely, Wilshere is another one along with Ramsey, I got to ask about Iwobi as well…
Too many players being paid more than they are worth and this rebuild should aim to resolve that, cut out some now and force the rest to step up, without a rebuild then they are safer as they do not see any risk to not giving 110% each day like Alexis does.
Seeing some shipped out could be motivation for others to step up, it might not but hey, I wanna be positive lol.
Walcott has been with the club for 10 years,still learning according to Wenger. Walcott is sitting on a pot of gold.no other club will pay that sort of money to a mediocre performer.yes he does get the odd goal.whenever he has the ball he panick.when exactly he is going to be a top class. Only Southgate can read his performance,Wenger is blind.
OZil is better than Walcott or Ramsey,he can use his brain to deliver a ball in the place. Walcott is lazier than ozil ,he cannot retract and kept position himself in the wrong place.By the way how many Arsenal players are sitting on gold pot.no wonder Walcott and Ramsay said ,we have to support the manager.if we do have a new manager,Walcott will be sent home to look after his babies
Yes and tune in tomorrow to hear Wenger licking Ramsey’s ass ??
Haha then pple were talking about an overhaul lol!!! Thats why we fail we let loyalty and achievements to make decisions.
This season then yes, Theo is having a good year and why can fans not admit that?
Will he have a good season next season? I would bet on no.
I honestly believe Theo has 1 good then 1 bad season so far, I hope he will prove me wrong and finally achieve some consistency… and I would be happy to see and sell him for less next year if he doesn’t.
If he does… If he improves next season over this season…
We have enough deadwood to sell that the volume can be split into 2 years and it would still be a lot of work for the board.
All you Walcott whingers, piss off you don’t have a clue how much he gets it’s all media talk. He gets us out of trouble so often and more so than Ozil and you all want to pay him an Sanches double what they get now. CB
decent player but nothing more than that, and I can say this about so many other Arsenal players as well. We won’t win any real titles with them starting.
Probably the most overrated player in arsenal history and currently holds that title across european leagues … He is a massively overpaid whippet with limited footballing abilities … Epitomizes the failure of the club over last 10 years .. So of course the delusional one will be praising him … Sad