Arsenal boss says Theo Walcott can emulate Thierry Henry
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says that winger Theo Walcott can follow in the footsteps of club legend Thierry Henry by transitioning from a wide role into the striker’s position.
Henry made the switch from the flanks to the middle of the pitch and never looked back as he scored 226 goals in 369 appearances for the Gunners before moving to La Liga giants Barcelona.
England international Walcott has shown that he has what it takes to score on a regular basis after chipping in with six goals in six games so far this season, as well as providing an assist.
Wenger believes that Walcott’s searing pace could lead to him becoming a lethal marksman for his club, but his lack of ability in the air meant that he was not quite suited to being a lone striker. The Gunners
boss told reporters that: “Theo can be a prolific goalscorer. Once he is a yard in front of the defender, no one can catch him.
'Very close to playing striker's role'
“He is very, very close to playing that striker role. But when you play with only one up front you like as well a guy who is good in the air as sometimes you kick it longer.”
Wenger pointed to Walcott’s brace against Newcastle United in the Carling Cup on 27 October as key goals in his development as a forward:.
“Look at the two goals he scored against Newcastle — they are from a typical striker goes who plays on a counter-attack.
“But most of the time we face teams with a different problem. We face teams that play very deep like West Ham United so there is less space in behind. That is why at the moment I use him on the flanks.”
Wenger added that there were traits Walcott had in common with Henry, but urged the club’s fans for patience as the winger is just 21 and needs more time to develop into a top-class player.
"It's difficult to compare the similarities. Is Thierry a replica of Theo? No. But they have in common tremendous pace, they are good finishers and both are intelligent.
"In England, you are very impatient. Thierry Henry came here at the age of 23 and Theo is 21. Give two more years to Theo and imagine what he will be. It looks to me now that Theo has a calmness in front
of goal.”
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