Opinion: Time for Theo Walcott to shine as Arsenal's main striker

By Joe Lobo

When the prodigal Theo Walcott signed for Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2006, few could have imagined that the forward would spend the next nine years in and out of the side.

Walcott has been at the Emirates since a time when Big Brother was still a novelty and smoking in pubs was the norm, and a lot of hot air has been blown at Arsenal in the meantime.

Finding out Walcott has celebrated his ninth anniversary at Arsenal is enough to make anyone feel old, especially as a lot of his time in North London has passed without incident.

"I think he’s at a moment of his career where he knows that it’s now time for him to completely fulfil his potential,” Wenger said this about Walcott last month.

In truth, he could have said it about the 26-year-old in any other press conference over the last few years. Working out how to properly use Walcott remains one of English football's great conundrums - with the transfer window closed it's time for Wenger to finally solve it.

The pressure is greater now that Walcott is reportedly one of Arsenal’s highest earners. He's on a similar wage to the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil - two guaranteed starters who are sure of their roles within the team.

In comparison, Walcott has started just five Premier League games since he came back from injury half-way through last season - hardly an acceptable return. With Danny Welbeck out until Christmas and Wenger choosing to keep his money in his pocket in the transfer window, the pressure is on to make the most of what still feels like a talent as raw as a steak enjoyed by his manager’s compatriots.

Walcott is like the one player every child loves to have in their side when first playing Fifa - blistering pace, with an ability to score goals. The problem is that while he possesses the asset of speed, he doesn't always use it to the best of his advantage.

Wenger’s post 'Invincibles' Arsenal have always valued possession, intricate passing and link-up play across the front six. He tends to sign players based on this system.

The England international is a stray from Wenger’s flock of midfield maestros. At the weekend against a Newcastle side reduced to ten men, Walcott played in his cherished striker role, managing just 18 touches with only three in the box as the game passed him by.

All the blame can't be put at Walcott's feet, for years Wenger has talked up the Englishman’s potential to spearhead an attack. After nine years of being played predominantly out on the right, it feels a bit misguided to expect a 26-year-old to morph into the English Thierry Henry through his occasional run-outs down the middle.

Henry and Robin van Persie have both been frequently cited as examples of mercurial wingers moulded into line-leading talismen, but both had different experiences to Walcott. Upon his arrival, Henry was instantly thrust up front and allowed to develop his skills; Van Persie joined as Dennis Bergkamp approached retirement and was given the opportunity to partner Henry during some of his best years. Meanwhile, Walcott was shunted to one side for the sake of both men and, more recently, for Olivier Giroud.

Since his return from injury, Wenger has struggled to fit Walcott in the side, let alone up front, giving him the role of supersub when goals are needed. The problem is Walcott’s pace never seems to work in those situations. For example, against Liverpool Walcott came on with Arsenal enjoying the better of the game, meaning Liverpool chose to play deeper and counter-attack.

Instead of Giroud’s link-up play, Arsenal’s array of trequartistas had to rely on Walcott as an outlet - hardly his greatest strength. It meant Liverpool were able to break up play more easily in their half and ensure a well-deserved point with little fuss.

The former Southampton youngster has shown his ability infrequently from the start. Memorably, Walcott hit a hat-trick in the 7-3 win over Newcastle. His first goal was classic Walcott, running off the back of the defender and cooly finishing in the corner; the second saw him patiently pick his spot before rifling it into the top corner while the third is one of his best, dancing his way through the defence by any means necessary before dinking it over Tim Krul, meaning no one can question his ability.

The start of this season has seen him revert to 'Bad Walcott' - the one who you forget is playing until he misses a glorious opportunity. Admittedly, it must be difficult when he’s stuck on the bench while some fans demand a new striker to force him even lower down the pecking order, but it's time for him to prove the supporters wrong.

With the window shut until the January, now is his opportunity. But he needs help. If Arsenal are to keep up with Man City at the top of the table, it is time Wenger, a man with an economics degree, to make the most of one of his few summer investments.