Thursday 29 September 2011

Theo vs The 'Ox' Debate - Are they really rivals for the wing?

Is Theo praying he's not benched for 'The Ox' - Naaah!

Exciting prospect already thrilling Gooners worldwide!

I feel for Theo.

I, like many Gooners was thrilled when Wenger signed him back in '06 for 12 million, much like he has done with'The Ox' and from the same club.
I am a big fan of the lad despite the general frustration at an apparent inability to improve after 4/5 years at the club, I still believe he is improving.

I agree with many of the comparisons between Theo and Alex and understand some of the moans and groans about Theo - he can be frustrating but he is still only 22 years old and some of his progression was halted by injuries.

I remember a certain winger by the name of Theirry who came to us way back, 1999 I believe. He was about the same age as Theo is now and seemed miffed after a torrid time at his previous club stuck out on the wing where he clearly didn't want to be.

Henry was an unknown and had less expectation on his shoulders
Wenger brought him over and gave him a run out, he seemed happier and more natural when he pushed forward into a more advanced goal scoring position. He still cut in or out to the wing but once he was within shooting range, my word, he could score a cracking goal or three.

That man went on to score a few more for us one he had established himself in his mid twenties as a natural striker.

Theo wants the same. He can do the same, which is why I still believe in him and want him to emulate the great Frenchman now playing for the NY Red Bulls as one of the most famous strikers in football history.

When Theo plays on the right which we all know isn't the position he wants to play in, he seems frustrated.

He CAN knock the ball past the opposition player and run on to it, for some reason he doesn't do it often enough.

I think he has been very patient, has done what he's been told and tried his best and therefore deserves the chance he wants, to play in his preferred position.

Theo has clearly stated he wants to play in the forwards position. With RVP playing behind him, I don't see why we can't see a new Bergkamp/Henry type partnership forming.

As for Alex, well apart from the usual statement that he'd be happy playing anywhere, and I'm sure he could in the final third, 'The Ox' wants to play in a more central role, much like Fabregas did.

Therefore, I can see no reason why they both can't play together with someone else like Gervinho, Park, Myaichi, or even Arshavin taking up the right wing position, hell I would'nt even mind seeing Sagna playing there as his delivery is normally of good quality but in that case we'd have to rely on Jenkinson to take up the right back role permanently but is he ready to do that yet?
Could we possibly try this? I doubt it. 

Why not try it?

We've seen Gibbs play on the left wing, as he briefly did last night in our 2-1 win in Europe, in front of Santos and that looked pretty good to me.

We all know what Wenger is like when it comes to protecting young inexperienced players, so it's too early to write Theo off in my opinion. It merely creates healthy competition in those attacking positions.

We may have a patched up defence at his time what with new players bedding in, Vermaelen's injury and the likes of JD turning to shit just when we least need it.

But in our attacking third, Wenger has options most clubs would only dream of having and we have to use that to our advantage.

In conclusion, I'd say Wenger has a welcome headache in the attacking department but by no means do I believe that 'The Ox's' exciting emergence means Theo has anything to worry about.

As for Sunday's game against our smelly scummy neighbours, I'd be happy to see them both on the pitch in a formation much like the one above. Though I doubt that will happen!

A dream result these days!
We're underdogs now anyway, so why not go for broke and see if we can score a shite load more than we concede on the day!





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