Theo Walcott falls short of his Premier League target
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Arsenal starlet Theo Walcott has admitted his form this season has "fallen short" of the standards he set himself.
Walcott, 19, gave an honest appraisal of himself despite Gunners boss Arsene Wenger claiming he played his best game in an Arsenal shirt in Saturday's win over Reading.
It comes just two weeks after the winger's amazing 70-yard run in Arsenal's Champions League defeat at Liverpool, which showed his massive potential.
But Walcott is frustrated he has not started more games two years after his record-breaking £12m move from Southampton.
He said: "At the start of this season I wanted to make 20 to 25 starts and score five goals. At the moment I'm on 17 starts and five goals, so it looks like I will fall short of that.
"I would have liked to have played more, especially lately because I feel I have been playing quite well."
Walcott's Arsenal transfer, and his call-up to England's World Cup squad two years ago, meant his development was played out in the public eye while most teenagers would be making their mistakes in the reserves.
That has heaped pressure on him and he has endured a difficult season, especially after Arsenal's Carling Cup semi-final thrashing at Tottenham when he was singled out for criticism.
But Walcott has turned things around in the latter part of the season by getting an England recall to Fabio Capello's last squad for the friendly in France and that now famous run at Anfield.
But he insists that his incredible dribble against Liverpool counted for nothing as Arsenal went out. "It is frustrating," he added. "Sky showed that run quite a lot and made something of it. It's a shame that we did not go through but I know myself what I have done.
"My display at Liverpool is the sort of thing I want to do when I start games: get the defenders on the back foot so they don't know what I'm going to do next.
"I don't want to be coming off the bench all the time. I want to get in the starting line-up and I know I need to produce what I do in practise when I start the games. That's my next target.
"To be honest, I did not expect to be back with England this soon. But I have the experience of being around the squad, so that definitely helps.
"Hopefully I can start some games for Arsenal and show Mr Capello what I can do. I want to concentrate on Arsenal first and foremost, but England have a couple of friendlies coming up and I would like to be involved."
Blame Le boss for this. This kid has potential and is 60 000 times better than Ebouseless.
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he should try not to burn out himself...
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well felirox, walcott has to be handle wif care.
young players dat peak fast will land up pasting their prime when they dun even reach 30. just look at mickey owen. he was a wonderkid but these days he's more like a cripple piece of shit.
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Originally posted by 798:
well felirox, walcott has to be handle wif care.
young players dat peak fast will land up pasting their prime when they dun even reach 30. just look at mickey owen. he was a wonderkid but these days he's more like a cripple piece of shit.
yup... owen last time should've been protected more...