Theo Walcott - The Marmite player

THEO WALCOTT. You either love him or hate him. Some say he doesn't have a football brain, others say he has no end product. Personally I think he is one of the most under-rated players in the Premier League.

The problems seem to stem from the fact that when he joined Arsenal as a 16 year old, back in January 2006, many expected him to become the new Theirry Henry. But Arsene Wenger did not want to rush him. In fact he did not play for the first team for the remainder of that season.

Despite this, however, Sven Goran Eriksson selected him for the England squad for that summer's World Cup in Germany. While there is no doubt it was a great experience for the young man, many neutral observers believed he should not have gone. Already the guns were out for him.

Walcott made his Arsenal debut as a substitute in the clubs first ever Premier League match in the new Emirates Stadium on the opening day of the 2006-07 season. Losing 1-0 to Aston Villa, Theo made an instant impression with his searing pace and played a major role in Gilberto Silva's late equaliser.

But Wenger was keen to bring him on slowly. He started just 13 games in all competitions that season, but played a big part in the club's run to the Carling Cup final, where they faced Chelsea. Despite struggling with a shoulder injury, Walcott scored his first Arsenal goal at the Millennium Stadium, although Chelsea were to come back and win 2-1.

Despite being bought as a striker initially, Wenger preferred to play him in a right-sided role where he felt his pace would be more effective. But that seems to be where the criticism has come from. It took Walcott time to adjust to the new position, and while his pace enabled him to get into some very good positions, he all-too-often made the wrong choices with his final delivery.

It was around this time that Alan Hansen said those famous words on Match Of The Day. Walcott had no football brain. That was it. It stuck. Whenever Theo's name was mentioned in any football conversation, that phrase would always be mentioned. Even Arsenal fans, it seemed, where jumping on the bandwagon.

I admit, he was frustrating at times. Injuries were not helping his cause, and he was unable to hold down a regular place in the side. He did not score his first Premier League goals until March 2008, going on to score a brace at Birmingham in the now infamous Eduardo match. But his second goal that day, a marvellous solo effort, showed he not only had a football brain but could finish too.

He ended the 2007-08 season with 7 goals in just 20 starts, but injuries hampered his progress over the next two years. He was in the headlines again at the start of the 2008-09 season with a hat-trick for England in a World Cup qualifier in Croatia, but the critics were soon on his back again. Not even 21, yet it appeared young Theo was not fulfilling his early potential.

The 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons were frustrating for Walcott. Injuries restricted him to just 42 starts and he struggled to find consistency in his game. At times he looked unplayable. At others like a kid out of his depth. Many Arsenal fans had long since lost patience with him. But not me.

I could not understand Wenger's reluctance to play him through the middle, in a central striker's role. With Robin van Persie constantly injured, and Emmanuel Adebayor off to Manchester City, I felt the time was right to give Theo a run up front. He had shown a calmness in front of goal and I could see a 25-30 goal-a-season striker in him. But Wenger insisted on playing him wide.

He slowly began to adapt to that role, however, and by 2010 he had matured into the player I always knew he could be. Unfortunately the critics refused to see it. He actually had a very good 2010-11 season, scoring 13 goals in just 25 starts, and creating numerous others, but still people were on his back.

I remember an incident outside the ground at Blackpool in April 2011 when it was announced over the PA that Theo would be on the bench. Many fans around me were pleased, saying that was where he deserved to be. I was shocked by their reaction. He had scored a hat-trick against them in the reverse fixture at The Emirates in August and their defence could clearly not cope with his pace.

Then, with us about to throw away a 2-0 lead, Walcott emerged from the bench to create the killer third goal for van Persie. That is what he can do and that is why he should be starting. But it seemed I was a lone voice.

Last season Theo reached new heights. He finally established himself as a regular in the side, the injuries finally over, and he worked in tandem with van Persie. In fact Theo assisted in nearly a third of Robin's goals last season, a fact recognised on numerous occasions by the Dutchman himself. No end product?? No football brain?? No chance.

But it seemed most of his critics were closer to home. Theo had a poor first half in the game against Tottenham at The Emirates in February and was booed by a section of his own fans at half time. But Wenger stuck with him and it paid off in spectacular fashion as he scored twice in the second half to seal a famous 5-2 victory.

That may well be looked on as the turning point in his career. He ended the season in good form until a hamstring injury saw him miss three matches. But his importance to the team was evident when he was brought on a half time in the final match at WBA, even though he was not 100% fit, and helped us to the 3-2 win we needed to qualify for the Champions League.

He then became England's secret weapon in the Euros this summer. His performance from the bench against Sweden turned the game and the whole Country was calling for him to start the subsequent matches. He didn't and we went out.

So this could now be a crucial season in Walcott's career. Into the final year of his contract at Arsenal, he is stalling over a new deal. Perhaps he feels he is ready for a new challenge. Perhaps he feels he is never going to get the chance to play up front under Wenger. Perhaps he feels the club lack ambition after the recent sales of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and now his mate van Persie.

They say you only truly appreciate something when it's gone, well maybe that is only way the Arsenal fans will fully appreciate just what a fine player Theo Walcott is.

Thankfully it appears he is now staying with us, until January at least. Hopefully he will now get the chance to play in his proper position and save us a fortune in the transfer market by replacing the goals of van Persie.

I know he can do it. I see 25 goals in him this season if he is played up front. Personally I would play him alongside Oliver Giroud, feeding off the big man. With Lukas Podolski on the left, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right and Santi Cazorla playing just behind, we will certainly create the chances for him.

So I urge the fans to get off his back. You haven't seen the best of him yet. He has been a striker playing wide. Perhaps now we will get to see the real Theo Walcott. Perhaps you will realise you liked Marmite all along.

An away trip to Stoke. Warning, this is not for the faint-hearted

STOKE away. Hardly a trip to set the pulses racing is it? But after four years back in the Premier League I decided it was about time I finally visited the Britannia.

My last visit to Stoke was for a League Cup tie in 1996. Arsene Wenger had only just arrived as manager and a late Ian Wright goal gave us a 1-1 draw at their old Victoria Ground. It was knocked down soon after but I'm pretty sure it would not have taken much to demolish it. It was pretty much falling apart that night as I recall.

Despite the new stadium, and Stoke's return to the top flight in 2008, I had always managed to resist the temptation to go back. Maybe it was the football, or lack of football, on offer. Maybe it was Tony Pulis.

Ah Tony Pulis. If Stoke are the football equivalent of the Anti-Christ then Pulis is Satan himself. The man is stuck in a 1980's time warp. From his Wimbledon 'Crazy Gang' long ball tactics to his shell-suit and baseball cap, last seen worn by Harry Enfield in his 'Scousers' sketch from 1988. Calm down, calm down.

Pulis, right, mixes with some of the Stoke fans

Pele once described football as the beautiful game and if that is true then Stoke are clearly the ugly sister. Yet the club, its manager and the neanderthals who fill the stadium, seem well suited to each other.

Some of these guys clearly do not get out much. The look on their faces as they performed their ridiculous 'Wenger' routine told you all you needed to know. The lights are on but no one is home.

The radio on the drive up informed us that the Britannia is the loudest stadium in the country. Yet the only time they made any noise was when they sang Delilah. Once. Just after kick off.

Ah Delilah. I know there is a perfectly reasonable explanation as to why they sing a song about a man who kills his unfaithful wife made famous by Tom Jones in the 1960's (a Stoke fan once explained it to me), but I really don't care. It is just wrong on so many levels.

As it happens this trip very nearly did not happen for me at all. Having actually made the plunge to buy tickets for Emerson and me, mainly as it was the first away game of the season, I tore my ankle ligaments playing football the day before.

By Saturday night I could not walk let alone drive. The chances of me getting to Stoke and then standing for the entire 90 minutes were virtually zero.

I awoke on Sunday morning still in pain but Emerson convinced me we should go.

"You'll only be sitting in the car and then you can always sit down in the ground if it's too sore," he said.

Of course the fact that we were meeting his two older brothers, Rees and Ryan, at the station meant I was under even more pressure to go so I decided to strap the ankle up and bite the bullet.

As it turned out the drive up was pretty stress-free and did not cause too much pain so we arrived in the village of the damned at 12.30pm, an hour before kick off.

The plan was to park at Stoke station, meet Rees and Ryan and get the bus to the ground. However, by the time I had parked the car and hobbled over the road to the station they had already been herded onto the bus by the local constabulary. Perhaps someone should tell them it is not actually still the 1980's and football fans do not have to be treated like animals anymore. But then this is Stoke. Safety first and all that.

Anyway, as the buses would not be back for 25 minutes and would then take another 15 to get to the ground, we were advised to get a cab. A bargain at £7.80. Cheers, Guv'nor.

We arrived at the away end at 1.15pm and the atmosphere was building nicely. I had warned Emerson that there would be songs about Robin van Persie but he wasn't worried.

"I hate him now," he said. "He is just a dimming logger."

Just to clarify, that is Emerson's phrase for a someone he dislikes. Adebayor is a dimming logger, as is Samir Nasri and anyone who plays for Chelsea and Man. United.

As it turned out the songs were not as bad as I was expecting. A few about his rape allegations, one about Lukas Podolski replacing him, and that was about it.

More exciting for me was the chance to see our three new signings, although I was disappointed that Gervinho had been selected over Theo. Gervinho should never be selected over Theo. Never.

Despite our poor record at the Britannia I was convinced we would win. Emerson went for a 2-0, but swiftly changed it to 2-1 when he saw Vito Mannone was in goal.

"He's not very good is he?" he said.

I went for a rather more optimistic 4-2. The team appeared to have good shape and I felt Arteta and Cazorla would be too much for them in midfield, but I was convinced we would concede. We always do here. And Mannone was in goal.

Emerson looking happy before kick off.

As expected the neanderthal home fans to our left gave Wenger a 'friendly' reception while we tried our best to boo Pulis. At least I did. Very loudly.

So far so good then. My ankle was holding up well and the pain killers had kicked it. The sun was out, we were wearing our lovely new purple away kit and Emerson was happily singing all the songs.

But then the game started. The thing that shocked me most was Stoke's lack of ambition. I have rarely seen a home team waste so much time, and do so little to actually win the game. It was a blessing that their early 'goal' was rightly disallowed for offside as them going 1-0 up would have killed the game then and there.

I was, however, impressed with the way the back four all stood in a line with their arms in the air appealing for offside. Good to see the Bould influence already having a positive effect. Or perhaps they had they just watched Fever Pitch on the bus journey up?

The rest of the first half saw us dominate possession but create very little. Cazorla and Arteta were both amazing and I was particularly impressed with the work rate of Giroud up front. He chased everything and constantly put their defence under pressure.

The clearest chance fell to L-Pod (as I now call him) when Wilkinson slipped inside the area but he recovered to block the German's effort with his head. It was not until I saw TV replays later that I realised it had actually hit his arm, but you are not going to get a penalty for something like that away from home. Unless you are Man. United.

The players troop off at half time

The second half was even worse, if that's possible. Begovic in the Stoke goal was taking longer and longer over each goal kick and it got to the point where the away fans behind the goal were counting the number of seconds he was taking. Around 25 was about average, and as they had somewhere in the region of 10 goal kicks that would be around four minutes to be added on at the end. Wouldn't it ironic of we scored the winner in that added period, I thought.

But I had the feeling we were not going to score even if we played until Christmas. We finally looked more threatening after Theo and The Ox replaced L-Pod and Gervinho (far too late in my opinion), but we still created very little. Giroud volleyed over from a pre-planned corner routine, while Diaby and Arteta both shot wide from good positions. It led to the inevitable chants of  'Robin van Persie, he would have scored that,' from the Day Releases to our left.

We almost nicked it at the death when Giroud shot just over from 30 yards with Begovic off his line, but while I doubt van Persie would have score that, he may well have spotted Aaron Ramsey unmarked in the centre.

Action from the second half . When I say action.

The only thing to look forward now was to see the amount of stoppage time to be added. Don't forget the four minutes just on goal kicks, and with six substitutions it had to be at least five. But no. Just three. Three! You can bet your life had Man. United been 0-0 here there would have been six or seven, but we get just three. Not even enough to cover the goal kicks. Well done referee. Well done Stoke.

On this very weekend last year we were given our money back after the 8-2 defeat at Old Trafford, but at least that was entertaining. This was just awful and I would rather have got a refund for this one. From Pulis. In person.

Okay, so the positives. Cazorla is a quality footballer and will prove to be a great addition to the squad. A midfield with him, Arteta and Wilshere fills me with excitement.

Podolski showed good touches and will score goals, while I was impressed with Giroud's work rate. And of course the defence was immense against a side that always causes us problems.

We finally met up with Rees and Ryan in the car park behind the away end. Rees had been on night shift and had come straight here without any sleep. Quite how he managed to stay awake for the entire match was beyond me. I was falling asleep in the second half and I had had a full night's kip.

After our usual post-match McDonalds we decided this could be a great season after all. The new guys look good, there is the prospect of others to follow, and we haven't looked this solid at the back since the days of the 'Famous Five.'

I'm sure that if by May we have lifted a trophy this match will be long forgotten, but for now the memory is far too fresh.

Stoke away? Never again.

New season, same old problem?

WELL the first week of the new Premier League season certainly reminded us just how great it is, right? Goals galore, great comebacks, excitement and Manchester United losing. What more could we have wished for?

But for me the bigger issue was the dreadful offside decisions that cost both Southampton and Reading the chance of a point at Manchester City and Chelsea respectively.

There is no doubt that had it been a player from the away side, the newly promoted away side I might add, as far offside as both Carlos Tevez and Fernando Torres were when they scored, the goals would not have been given. But the big clubs always seem to get these decisions, especially at home.

FIFA have been calling for the use of goal-line technology to sort out incidents that occur very rarely, but if we are going to use technology for anything - and overall I am against it - then at least lets use it for decisions that happen all the time. Like offsides for example.

The pace of the game these days means it is very difficult for the assistant referees, or linesmen in old money, to keep up with play. That does not excuse the lino in the Chelsea match, however, as it did not need a video replay to tell us that Torres was miles offside when he put Chelsea ahead against Reading.

Decisions like that, even at this early stage of the season, could prove crucial for a club like Reading, where every point is so important. They had played well at Chelsea on Wednesday evening and looked set to earn at least a point with the score at 2-2 going into the last ten minutes. But all their hard work was undone by a dreadful mistake by the assistant, and this should not be allowed to continue.

Southampton suffered a similar fate at City last Sunday. The goal from Tevez may have come early in the match, and at one point the Saints managed to turn it around to lead 2-1, but it makes it no less important. To be fair to the assistant, on this occasion the call was much tighter and at first look it was touch-and-go, but replays showed Tevez was clearly offside and once again a big club had been given the benefit of a tight call.

So perhaps herein lies the real problem. Perhaps the referees and their assistants can tell what is offside and what is not without the need for video replays. Perhaps they just have an agenda in favour of the big clubs?

I am not suggesting for one minute that the officials are 'bent' in any way, just that perhaps they are 'influenced' by the stature of the club and pressure from the fans. I have heard many former referees speak of the pressure they felt at places like Old Trafford, and of course who would want to endure the wrath of Fergie?

But I don't just blame the officials. The Premier League will do nothing about the injustices bestowed on Southampton and Reading this week. Nothing. The assistants involved will be running the line at a Premier League game this weekend. They will not be suspended. Had these decisions gone against City or Chelsea, or, heaven forbid, United, they would have been relegated to League Two, or worse, without a seconds thought. One rule for one.

So what is the answer? Well personally I would like to see the officials come out in the media and explain these decisions after the match. Let them watch replays of the incidents and explain their thinking. Was their positioning wrong? Did they just did not see it? Whatever the reasons they should have to face the consequences. A fine, a ban, extra tuition. A written apology to the club involved at the very least. But they are unaccountable.

Perhaps the officials themselves would welcome the use of video replays to help them. If so, perhaps we should try it. The money in the game is so great these days that they cannot afford to keep getting it wrong.

If Reading are relegated by one point this season, a point they should have got at Chelsea, then the consequences for them will be huge. The lino will no doubt be sunning himself somewhere next summer without a care in the World while Reading will be suffering the consequences of his mistake. Where is the justice in that?

So a potentially great start to the new season has been slightly tarnished for me. As a fan of a club in the 'Big Four,' I fully expect to see my club benefit from decisions like these throughout the season. But that does not make it okay. I would rather see my team lose fairly than win unfairly. Unless it's against United at Old Trafford or Spurs at White Hart Lane, of course. Then I just want to see us to win.

Sky are to blame for much of what is wrong with the game these days, but they could just offer the solution to one of its biggest problems. Their million different camera angles and the speed at which they can produce replays could mean these offside decisions are called right everytime. And we would all welcome that, wouldn't we?

No van Persie, no chance?

SO Arsenal are held to a goalless draw in their Premier League opener against Sunderland on Saturday and it's all down to the sale of Robin van Persie. Yes of course it is. I mean the club never drew a home game while the Dutchman was playing did they?

The late chance missed by new signing Oliver Giroud would surely have been buried by van Persie, they said. Yes, I mean he never missed any chances did he? When he was fit of course.

Yes it was a disappointing way to kick off the new season, but I prefer to look at the positives. Santi Cazorla, for example, made a very encouraging debut. In fact I would so as far as to say he looks the natural replacement for Cesc Fabregas.

Lukas Podolski and Giroud may have failed to shine but both are clearly quality players and will score goals once they have settled in. Plus, of course, the possible arrivals of Nuri Sahin and Yann M'Vila mean we have plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

Furthermore the other challengers have not exactly set the world alight either. Manchester City struggled to overcome an average Southampton side, Chelsea appeared to run out of steam after a good start at Wigan, while United lost, and looked very poor, at Everton.

So it is hardly a time for doom and gloom. I can see great potential in this side. The squad appears to have more balance now and a midfield of Arteta, Cazorla and Wilshere fills me with excitement. Meanwhile, with Steve Bould working his magic on the defensive side of the game, I can see a lot more clean sheets this season.

But where will the goals come from, I hear you ask? Well, Podolski, Giroud, Gervinho, Theo Walcott and Cazorla all have double figures in them so I feel the goals will be more evenly spread this season. The Golden Boot may not be finding its way back to The Emirates come May but a real trophy might well be.

The seven year itch may be about to be scratched. I have not felt this optimistic about the clubs chances of success since the days of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp. The other challengers do not scare me and, as long as we can stay in contention through the early weeks, I can see us getting stronger and stronger as the season progresses.

But the whole balance of the team does seem more suited to the Champions League. Chelsea proved last season that you do not have to be the best team to win it, just play to your strengths and have a bit of luck along the way. We can do that.

Failing that, of course, is the FA Cup. By January I believe this team will be flying and no one will fancy getting drawn against us. No one. Three major trophies to go for and we have a great chance in all of them.

Nah, who am I kidding? We have just lost the greatest striker in the World to one of our biggest rivals. And that is following on from the loss of Fabregas and Samir Nasri last year. The club is in decline, a selling club, and Saturday's 0-0 draw with a dire Sunderland side is the reality of where we are at.

The critics cannot all be wrong, can they? Wenger has clearly lost the plot and without van Persie we are doomed to another season of failure. Aren't we??

Super Saturday proves The Olympics has been a resounding success

CAN THERE ever have been a better night for British sport than the one we witnessed in The Olympic Stadium on Saturday?

3 gold medals in less time than it took the Team GB football side to crash out on penalties to South Korea in Cardiff. Amazing.

The first gold, won by Jessica Ennis in the Heptathlon just after 9pm, was the most predictable. Her performances in the earlier six events meant it was a foregone conclusion she would get the result she needed in the 800 metres.

Ennis did not need to win the race. In fact she only had to finish at least 13 seconds behind her nearest rival. She could have walked around the track and still come away with the gold. But that is not in her nature. Despite slipping down to third coming into the home straight, she pushed herself again to clinch the gold in style.

Meanwhile, the final of the Long Jump was taking place simultaneously, and we had a chance of two medals. Greg Rutherford led early on and, inspired by Ennis winning the 800 metres moments earlier, landed a jump of 8.31m in the fourth round to increase his advantage.

By now the Men’s 10,000 metres final had started, with Mo Farrah one of the favourites to take the gold. As the athletes ran past on the track behind them, Rutherford’s nearest rivals failed to match his distance and we had a second gold medal, just twenty minutes after the first.

The 10,000 metres was now becoming a very tactical race, with the Kenyans determined to make it as difficult for Farrah as possible. But the Brit went in front at the start of the final lap and pulled away from his rivals on the home straight to make a hat-trick of gold medals just before 9.50pm.

Coming on top of a great day elsewhere, where Team GB had picked up a gold in rowing and two in cycling, it was a great way to round off a remarkable day for British sport.

You almost had to feel sorry for the finalists in the Women’s 100 metres, which started just after Farrah had crossed the line. Usually this is one of blue-riband events but this time it felt very much like an anti-climax. The night had been all about the Brits.

The euphoria continued on Sunday, as Ben Ainsley won a 4^th Olympic gold in the Sailing Finn before Andy Murray demolished Roger Federer in the Tennis final at Wimbledon to land a gold of his own. He later picked up a silver with Laura Robson in the Mixed Doubles to make it another great day for Team GB.

It seems hard to believe now that the award of the Games in 2005 was greeted with so much scepticism. There is no doubt it has been a massive success, however, more so than Lord Coe could ever have imagined.

Yes, the cost of hosting such a major event has been mentioned many times, especially in these times of austerity, but there can be little doubt now it has been money well spent.

The whole thing has been superbly organised, the atmosphere inside the well designed venues has been terrific and the Team GB athletes, in so many different events, have proved to be the best we have ever had.

With blanket coverage on the BBC, it has also given us the chance to watch some sports we would not otherwise have had the opportunity to see. Handball, in particular, has proved very popular and it would be no surprise to see it really take off after The Games are over.

And of course the good news is we still have another week to go…