Theo and Vela, is it even a contest?(Arsenal dis.)

[Keano]

I wont go on and on about how I think the English press (and football fans) overhype every English player that can kick a ball, but for a team that has Walcott as a key player .. I can see why they wont even be close to challanging for the title.

He's got a tremendous amount of pace, but isnt that all ? His finishing is good as well but other than that, every other aspect of his game is average at best. Average control, poor crossing .. and he must be the least intelligent player that Arsenal have at the moment , which is the point of this thread.

I admire Wengers vision and trust in his young players but I have to fault him for using his squad poorly. I've seen quite a bit of Vela , this season and last, and he already looks miles ahead of Walcott and Bendtner having played way less first team football at the highest level. He's got most things in him, Great control, good pace .. he's a terrific finisher. Its a joke how he's behind Walcott, Bendtner and Diaby in the picking order.

Wellshire played a few times this season and looked a better prospect than Walcott. I just dont see whats special in Walcott really. I mean, having great pace always helps. But what does Walcott has, a starter for both Arsenal and England, that Aaron Lennon, a squad player for Spurs, doesnt ?

If Wenger wants to stick to his policies and beliefs, then fair play to him. Some people applaud him for that and some think its a great mistake. But what I strongly believe in is that whilst Arsenal youngsters have the talent (but not the consistency yet) required to challange at the top level, I cant help but think that a few 'dead wood' need to be moved aside for the real talent to get some chances and develop.

[Jazz 16]

Walcott has only impressed me in a couple of games, vs Pool in CL last year, vs Croatia when he got his hat-trick and the odd other one. I dont see what all the hype is about. Their youngsters seem like the real deal and deserve more games. Players like Vela, Ramsay and Wilshere. (you see my thread on these guys on other forum? lol)

Arsenal will NOT be challenging for the Prem this season. It doesnt take a genius to work that one out. Its criminal how they can be awesome against us and then be rubbish the very next week. Its confusing to say the least.

[Keano]

Its not confusing at all Jazz. Tottenham on their day can give anyone a game. Villa can do that as well. They have very good teams with a couple of match winners, they just dont have enough consistency about them or enough great players to maintain a challange. Arsenal are the same. They have world class full backs, Fabregas in midfield and Adebayor up front. Other than that their team consists of good players with no stand outs really. They have potentially a few classy players in the making though.

And yes I saw your thread lol its something that Ive been discussing with a few arsenal fans for a couple of years now really. Their young players and what can we expect from them.

[Jazz 16]

I meant to say annoying rather than confusing. Even after I wrote it I knew I chose the wrong word.
Im mates with an Arse fan and he is SO pissed off. He cant believe it lol

You think they could drop out of the top 4 this season?

[rlisu]

Personally I think Walcott is a gem. An unpolished gem of course, but that comes with experience. Think Ronaldo and Giggsy, both at a young age were frustrating inconsistent players. Giggsy had a tonne of experience next to him so it helped. Ronaldo a bit less, but still that helped him. Walcott has no one really. There is no leadership there, other then Wenger.
Vela I don't know enough about to comment.

The problem with the whole team is the Flamini syndrome. Arsenal don't want to pay the kind of wages other teams pay, and if they don't start winning trophies their best players might choose to move on to bigger and better things. The team has many players who are too young to be relied on or a few old players who should not be relied on. When Fergie was proving that Hansen is a clueless moron people forget that the team had a lot of older experienced players who were relied on while the Fledlings were given a chance. The Fledlings played about 30 games each that season.
Arsenal meanwhile have no one. They have one reliable striker, the Kanu lookalike, and one reliable, but injury prone forward. In the midfield they have two reliable players. Nasri, who is turning into a very good buy, and Fabregas, who without Flamini cleaning up behind him isn't as good as he showed last season. The rest we know. Walcott we talked about, and Denilshon not ready yet. Defence looks the best on paper, but the heart of it is vulnerable, Gallas is always one kick away from losing the plot. Toure for some reason is not the first choice CB, so they rely on Silvestre, a player who could not find playing time for us.

They are weakest in the middle, one CB and one CM from being a very good team. Arsene might want to wait a season or two to see how his kids develop. But they should buy, otherwise, those players will get developed and leave. I don't think anyone else in the League is consistent enough to break into the top four yet. Shitty have be shown for what they are. Spurs the same, tonnes of hype, no consistency. Everton are on their usual rollercoaster of one great season one mediocre one. And Villa are two player away. So Arsenal will stay n 4th by default. For them to drop they would have to get hit by a crisis of some sort, injuries or a few really bad results, as their confidence is not too great.

[Keano]

But at 19 you could already see the amount of talent Ronaldo had. He wasnt anywhere near perfect in many departments but the talent was there. Walcott, aside from a couple of really quality finishes, shows nothing special really. Im sure under Wenger he'll develop into a very good forward, I just dont see what the fuss is all about.

And we definitely agree on everything else about Arsenal. Talks of them not even getting a champions league place is crazy talk IMO as much as I would love for it to happen, theres simply no indication of someone being consistent enough to challange them.