The wait and the waste seem over

Speed merchant....Thoe Walcott against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League

Watching Theo Walcott scoring twice against Newcastle last week in the Carling Cup, it confirmed what may have all along been an open secret. As he the dissected Newcastle’s backline again and again with his jet speed and took on the unfortunate Tim Krul in goal, he reminded me very much of a certain Frenchman who used to ply his trade with masterly precision at Highbury.
Of course, I’m talking about Thierry Henry, whose catch-me-if-you-can style flummoxed defenders for eight years and helped us win a clutch of trophies.
Watching Theo on the night of October 27 at St James Park, was almost like seeing Henry back amongst our fold once again. But it wasn’t the Frenchman of course.
Walcott started this season like a house on fire and after an interruption of six weeks due to an ankle injury sustained up in a European Championship qualifier against Switzerland, he has picked up where he left off.
Finally now, it seems the boy wonder is ready to take up the mantle of Henry and become one of the most fearsome strikers in the land.
Finally, all the years of promise and potential look to be actually turning into fruition. The 21 year-old Englishman who has endured a career under the most-vicious scrutiny and most-intense cross examination, is maturing to becoming a player of real stature.
It wasn’t just the goals against Newcastle that mattered. It was the manner of his scoring them and the confidence that accompanied it. Gone are the hesitancy and doubt that have blighted his game. Gone are the hurried, rash decision-making that prompted the likes of Chris Waddle to accuse him of lacking a football brain, earlier this year.
In place of all that, is a firm belief in his ability that he can go past any defender and beat any goalkeeper. He demonstrated this new maturity at Ewood Park in September, where he scored a scorching grounder to help us to a 2-1 win. He showed it again in claiming a fitting hattrick against Blackpool in our first home game of the season in August.
Even last Saturday he almost added to his tally by leaving West Ham’s Herita Ilunga for dead before unleashing a carpetter that beat Robert Green in goal, but not the post and rebounded agonizingly into the grateful keeper’s hands.
In my country, Nigeria, they often describe such metamorphosis as “jungle don mature” – meaning the bush is now fully grown. The new Theo Walcott now looks hungry as a caged lion and burning with a passion to prove himself to all doubters.
It is however crucial to note that Wenger himself has been responsible in holding back Theo’s progress. Curious as this may sound, the Frenchman has hindered the Englishman somewhat by plunking him on the wings and taking him away from the heart of action where he can plunder goals.
After what the Englishman has done so far in front of goal, it looks like Wenger is finally ready to use him as a striker – which has always been his natural position.Acknowledging the threat that Walcott poses to defences, Wenger declared before the Shakhtar Donetsk game in Minsk that:


“Theo can be a prolific goalscorer. Once he is a yard in front of a defender, no one can catch him.”

True indeed. He put on a show just 24 hours later in Minsk as he outran the entire Shakhtar defence in the 10minute to score a wonderful, wonderful goal with his now trademark sprint. The sight of the entire Arsenal standing up to greet the goal couldn’t have served as a better endorsement and appreciation of this youngman’s incredible abilities.
In all the four or so years I’ve been watching him, I’ve never seen him caught by opposing players once he gets on his bike. Tottenham’s Aaron Lennon might have a thing or two to say about it, but methinks Theo is the fastest player in the English premiership.
Which was why Wenger chose to ‘waste’ him on the wings in an attempt to make maximum use of his speed and beat full backs. After all these years, that experiment hasn’t worked wonderfully well. Crossing balls still remains a weak part of his game – something which he has been slated again and again for. Better crossers like Manchester City’s Shaun Wright Phillips and Tottenham’s Gareth Bale have shown how effective a good crosser can be to a team if they do it well.
In their heydays, Marc Overmars, Steve Macmanaman and Robert Pires were one of the best crossers in the world, but for a greyhound like Walcott, it hasn’t come naturally despite years and years of trial.
After these four seasons with us, it now looks like the real Theo Walcott is about to stand up. His destiny seems to lie in front of goal, taking on defenders and shooting past goalkeepers. Having seen the prodigy, Jack Wilshire overtake him as English standard-bearer at the club, Theo knows he has to start delivering. And his response so far has been nothing less than impressive.
All the years of waste and waiting seems over with Theo. As long as he is played as a striker, we hope his time is truly now.

Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Arsenal 1

Ex Gunner, Eduardo(left) applauds the
fans holding an Arsenal shirt 

In what was always going to be our toughest Champions League game, we lost at the Dombass Arena to a revenge-seeking Shakhtar side. It was a very different side to the one that humiliated the Ukrainians a fortnight ago, as we made seven changes to the team that won 5-1 in the Emirates.
On account of injury, our entire midfield underwent a make over as Alex Song, Cesc Fabregas, Denilson and Abou Diaby all stayed at home. Andrei Arshavin also joined the missing-in-action list, while Marouane Chamakh and Bacary Sagna were rested.
Interestingly, we took the the lead in the 10th minute through the ever-improving Theo Walcott, who raced onto a through pass out of defence by Wilshire to score in his usual break away fashion.
Shakhtar, severqally known as 'Pitmen' or 'Miners' (depending on your choice of vaocabulary) responded with a sustained onslaught and despite some brave defending by Johann Djourou and Lukasz Fabianski, we were pegged back in the 28th minute when Craig Eastmond headed-in an own goal under pressure from a freekick.
Shakhtar continued their pressure and we were containing them comfortably until the 45th minute when Dario Srna nicked the ball off Gael Clichy to send a cross into the ball for the lurking ex-Gunner, Eduardo to shoot past Fabianski.
We had chances in the second half through Sebastian Squillaci, Walcott and Wilshire, but it was not to be our night as the hosts held on for their win.
In the larger picture, we still top the group though on goals’ difference now as Shakhtar join us on seven points apiece. We play host to Partizan Belgrade next and a win will surely seal up the business of qualification ahead of the final group game away to Braga in December.


Below are the ratings:
*Fabianksi (7/10) - Actually did well despite the defeat. It was always going to be a difficult game in difficult surroundings and he coped admirably for all that came his way. He was free from blame for both goals that went in and even prevented many more. Surely now, he is established between the sticks and all the stupid blunders seem to have been dealt with.
*Clichy (5/10) - A very ordinary game from Clichy. Was doing ok, just ok until he allowed Srna to dispossess him of the ball in the 45th minute, which ultimately led to the winning goal. Tried to atone for his mistake with his usual overlapping runs but the mistake was to remain crucial.
*Squillaci (6/10) - Did well on the night. He always brings a calmness to the defence and his experience allows him to read games well and anticipate a lot of situations. Despite the defeat, he acquitted himself well.
*Djourou (7/10) - Interestingly, this could count as Johann’s best game for us all season. The amount of blocks and interceptions he made were quite impressive and he even saved a goal bound shot on the line in the first half. The run of games he’s got already has helped his form a lot and it is hoped barring injuries, his long-trumpeted potential is beginning to emerge. Keep it up Johann.
*Eboue (6/10) - The Ivorian did well on the night and performed as expected of him. He helped out in defence when required and stifled the threat of Eduardo all night. Apart from the the winner which he scored, the ex-Gunner was not given any room to manouver.
*Eastmond (6/10) - It would go down as a better-forgotten night for the young Englishman but with his age, it should count as part of the learning curve. He was forced under pressure by ex- Barcelona defender, Dmitry Chygrynskiy to head into his own net but he recovered to hold his own. In the absence of Song and Fabregas, it was always going to be a formidable task for Eastmond to cope, and ultimately he was subbed early in the second half. Mention must be made that the long term injury to Emmanuel Frimpong is the reason why Eastmond is getting a look-in.
*Wilshire (7/10) – The young maestro picked up from where he left prior to his suspension. He dictated the pace of our game and provided the breakthrough pass for Walcott to score our goal. Was unfazed by the physicality of the game and almost scored himself in the second half. All in all, it was great to see him back in the side.
* Nasri (6/10) – Was required to play the Fabregas role on the night. But it didn’t quite go according to plan. Was visible though in the first half as he took on the Shakhtar defence repeatedly but there was no ready outlet to feed his balls. Tired and faded as the match wore on.
* Rosicky (6/10) - Was very pedestrian all night. Not much to write about him as he failed to impose himself in the middle.
* Bendtner (5/10) - For someone who is trying to break into the team, this was a missed opportunity to show what he could do. He was pedestrian all night and the sight of Chamakh on the bench must have served as a constant reminder that he wouldn’t be getting too many chances to start like last night.
* Walcott (8/10) - Another impressive day at the office. Apart from his well taken goal that silenced the home crowd, he was dangerous all night and never allowed the Shakhtar defence to relax. He is now a genuine source of goals for us and he has equalled his best tally of seven goals for us in only the third month of the season. Expect greater things from him this season.


Subs
*Vela (5/10) – As is now the fashion of the Mexican, he contributed nothing of note to the game. Came on in the 56th minute to little effect.
*Emmanuel Thomas (5/10) – Came on late for the tiring Walcott but had little impact on the proceedings. It will be nice to see what he can offer though as a starter.
*Chamakh (5/10) – He replacd the ineffective Bendtner but time ran out on him to impact on the game.

No 29 is a gift from the gods



Top Man...Top Gunner

 He is everything Robin Van Persie is not. Everything Emmanuel Adebayor can never be. Everything a striker will want to be. Now we understand why Arsene Wenger waited almost two years for him.
I’m talking here about none other than 25 year-old Moroccan Marouane Chamakh who has netted seven times since making his free transfer from Bordeaux to Arsenal in the summer. The slightly-built native of Rabat is a deceptively structured technician of the highest order and has repaid all the faith Wenger invested in him. So early in the season, that is quite a feat.
Myles Palmer describes him as a “cool, continuity player, a pro with a good temperament” and that summarises what he is all about in very simple terms. Additionally, he is a major reason why today we find ourselves in second position on the league log and bossing our group in the Champions League.
Everything Chamakh does on the pitch is carefully thought-out. After seeing him in play about 13 games for us now, I can’t remember him being picked for offside once. Something that Adebayor fell foul of, game in, game out.
Chamakh moves around stealthily and economically; making him hard to pick up and almost impossible to stop when he explodes. His long legs provide balance and the fact that he is two-footed makes him a danger to defenders because you never know when he’ll shoot.
All these attributes come also with a knack for drawing fouls from the opposition. In three months, he has got four players sent off in 13 games! Blackpool’s Ian Evatt, Bolton’s Gary Cahill, Partizan Belgrade's Marko Jovanovic and Manchester City’s Dedryck Boyata have been his victims so far and surely, more players will fall prey to Chamakh’s deceptive movement.
Added to this body count, he has also won us penalties against Blackpool, Tottenham, Partizan Belgrade and Braga. This is a phenomenal thing to do by any player. Except your name is Lionel Messi or Christiano Ronaldo would you attract so much attention from opposing defences.
In causing all these amount of mayhem, he has somehow managed to escape attention to score goals himself with regular consistency. Can you ask for more from a player, who isn’t even six months old yet in English football?
Chamakh also keeps a cool head on the pitch. Not for him are silly, little confrontations that detracts from the job at hand and takes your eye off the ball. Despite the amount of attention (often cynical) he gets from defenders, he manages to maintain his calm and do his stuff. That is something a fello-player, Van Persie can learn a lot from. The Morocaan has a good temperament that allows him to disregard all provocations and concentrate.
Allied to this, is the fact that he avoids flashpoints and hardly reacts to intimidatory tactics which are often salient parts of the game.
Which is why Arsenal’s style this season of playing a lone striker upfront has worked perfectly thus far. The right man for the job, this kind of job, was always Chamakh. He gives our multi-talented midfielders a ready outlet for balls and makes runs for them to supply passes. He keeps things simple and straight-forward and doesn’t break the rhythm of the game. Which is also something Van Persie can learn from. A selfish and individualistic player, the Dutchman has not hit his full potential because he doesn’t play in tune with the team – which is a passing team. Chamakh does it and does it well.
Which is why all the success he has recorded till date has not been a coincidence. Which is why he has integrated well into the team in so short a time. Which again, as we can all see now, was why Wenger waited and bidded his time for No 29.
Also, most importantly, he wanted to be here. In his words:

“For many players, it is either Real Madrid or Barcelona. For me, it has always been Arsenal. I have always wanted to wear their shirt and play for them. They have always been the team for me in all my years at Bordeaux and I could not be happier playing for any other team”.

So far, it has been a match making process of absolute perfection. And to think we got him and all his delightful attributes for free!
Long live the bloke in shirt No 29.

Arsenal 1 West Ham 0

In at last....Arsenal players bury goalscorer, Song under a huddle of joy

This was supposed to be a walk in the park. No hard evidence supporting that, except of course the only reason being that fellow Londoners, West Ham were propping up the table while our recent form has been quite literally, frightening.
Well, well events of the afternoon at the Emirates proved not in conformity with such prediction. West Ham, or more specifically, Robert Green made life very difficult for us with their dogged determination to save their season and avoid defeat at our hands.
They succeeded thanks largely to the efforts of Green, who stopped three point-blank, goalbound balls from first Fabregas; then Alex Song; then Squillaci; later again from Fabregas. In between all these, when he was beaten by the ball, the post and the bar stood in our way as Samir Nasri’s first half freekick and Theo Walcott’s delightful breakaway shot came back from the bar and post respectively.
It was looking very much like a frustrating day for us until, Song dived full length to nod in a cute lob from overlapping Gael Clichy in the 88th minute.
The roar that greeted the goal around the packed Emirates was more out of relief than celebration.
So we held onto second spot after and continued our recent good form bnoth home and away. It wasn’t a vintage performance but there would always be days like those.
What mattered at the end was the three points and that we secured – thanks largely to the heroics of Song.

Below are the ratings
*Fabianski (6/10) – Didn’t have too much to do actually but whencalled upon on about three occasions in the first half, he reacted very well to maintain our clean sheet. In such tight, see-saw games, a claen sheet is always the first foundation to getting anything out of games and he ensured that very much. Surely now, he is a man transformed.
* Clichy (7/10) – Did well on the day as he helped contain the threat of the big Frederic Piqouine particularly in the first half when WestHam carried some attacking threat. His cross into the box which resulted in the goal by Song must count as a huge moment of significance in the game.
*Koscielny (7/10) – Did very well to contain Piqouine, Boa Morte and the dangerous Nigerian Obinna Nsofor who took turns to run at our defence in the first half. Koscielny has proved how good a man marker he is and once again he showed it in this game. Never ruffled no matter the opposition.
* Squillaci (7/10) – He returned to the team after being rested for the midweek Carling Cup tie against Newcastle. His experience helped calm things at the back as always and he almost nicked a goal deep into the first half off a corner. The stunning form of Green however stopped that happening.
* Sagna (6/10) – Had a rather quiet game by his standards but that was due to the fact that West Ham retreated into their shells and opted to defend in the second half. Helped curb the threat of Piqouinne in the first half though and not surprisingly, contributed to the other Frenchman’s eventual substitution.
* Denilson (6/10) – Played in the defensive midfield hole in front of the defence and didn’t quite excel. Credit must however go to him for doing the dirty job and shackling the enigmatic Scot Parker, because that allowed Song to maraud forward and support the attack. If the truth be told, Denilson has been playing due to the suspension of Jack Wilshire and it remains to be seen if he’ll get a look-in once the excellent Englishman returns.
* Song (8/10) – Has very much transformed into a spinal player very in the mould of the Patrick Vieira. Not a bad comparison at all, considering the humble beginnings of the Camerounian. Even before he scored that 88th minute clincher, his presence was allover the pitch as he continually popped up in sensitive spots performing a myriad of functions. His goal eventually, was well deserved as no other player on our side, put in more hard yards than him on the day. Keep it up Alex.
* Nasri (6/10) – He wasn’t on top of his game Saturday but even the best players in the world have theiur off days. He cracked a delightful 35 yarder onto Robert Green’s bar however in the 40th minute, which had it gone in, would be candidate for goal of the season. His bags of tricks are still heavy with plenty of surprises.
* Fabregas (6/10) – Even he confessed that he had a poor game and it says a lot about his personality to admit that. Got going really in the second half but was thwarted ont two occasions from scoring by Green’s heroics. Later emerged that he played with a hamstring problame all game.
* Arshavin (5/10) – The Russian is clearly troubled by a mystery problem. He’s not himself and is not close to exhibiting the talents and abilities we all know he possesses. There has been talk of a contract extension to keep him here for the next three years but with his dwindling form, who knows if his future still lies with us. His displays keep getting curiouser and curiouser.
* Chamakh (5/10 ) – Our Moroccan gladiator never got going in this game. His level dropped very much and he seemed exhausted. Couldn’t recollect finding him in any threatening position or shooting at target all afternoon. But as with many other players on the day, he was off form.


Substitutes
• Walcott (7/10) – In a crisis, he must be the go-to man now. He came on in the 65th minute and showed the extent of threat he carries by skinning Heita Ilunga almost immediately and aiming for goal with a finecarpeter that unfortunately struck the post and rebounded into Green’s arms.
• Bendtner (5/10) – Also came on for the misfiring Arshavin but never really found his groove.


A not-so-good performance, but very vital win this was and it keeps Chelsea within sight. We go to Minsk on Wednesday night for our reverse Champioins League engagement with Shakhtar Donetsk and it promises to be a night of attrition as the Ukrainians will be hellbent on exacting revenge for their 5-1 pasting two weeks ago. A note of optimism however will be the return of Wilshire.