Is it me or is it just destiny that whenever good is supposedly bound to happen, cruel fate plays its ace in the pack card.
5 goals from the time he returned, an abdominal strain not with standing, Theo was back and how. Heck there was a feeling among a few that we dont even need to sign a striker for we have Theo who can do that role, the one he covets.
Alas the lasting image we will have of him this season was that 2-0 sign and that smile. A few moronic Neanderthals who call themselves football fans or should i say spuds fans, seem to rejoice his pain whereas the majority who are humane are moved.
Theo Walcott is an enigma, he was the precocious teenager with pace to burn who moved from Southampton to the mighty Arsenal at an age when most others would be still in school. He was selected to go to the world cup at the age of 17 when it was obvious he was too raw, he never got to play was another issue. He missed the last world cup in 2010 due to an injury and barring a miracle he wont play in Brazil as well. During this period he has gone on from being all pace no brains theo to the one who seems to be self assured, clever, calm and composed and even though the odd moments of running like a headless chicken continued, Theo was becoming more and more the Theo everyone hoped he would be.
Last season he turned a new leaf and signed the contract at Arsenal wherein he was courted by the money bags around the league if not the world, showing he knows what he was doing . Sign the contract sang the Emirates and he duly obliged. 21 goals in all competitions, 14 assists, considered to be among the most important players at The Arsenal, Theo had finally arrived.
When this season started, theo was expected to play a pivotal role in the campaign. Though it had been a stop start season, theo on more occasions than once reiterated his importance by his performances.
An injury now has dampened all and sundry. What was thought to be an innocuous pain in the knee has now ended up being an injury which has ruled him out for the rest of the season as well as the world cup( most likely).
Theo was the spark, he was the one who could have driven the second half of the campaign and taken it to its logical ending. Sadly this wont happen.
Can we replace him? no we cant, we dont have a like for like replacement but in Serge Gnabry and the returning Oxlade Chamberlain, Arsenal do have cover and the right ones to.They may not possess theo’s pace or experience but they are players who know this is their chance and they will need to take it.
If someone remembers a certain Robert Pires and his injury during the 02 season, they will remember his injury as well, Bobby was out for the major part of the season just when he was nearing his best form. He also missed the world cup and it seems dejavu for theo now. If at all theo needs an inspiration, he doesnt need to look beyond that genius called Pires. He never lost the belief, the team took it upon themselves to win the league for him and when they eventually did, the occasion was marked by one of the most spontaneous and poignant moments of Arsenal history-the Arsenal players giving him the trophy and kneeling before him, bowed to bobby.
Theo is not Pires and never will be but he cant ask for a better example than Bobby and learn from him on not to give up and remember the team, the manager( Wenger called Pires everyday for 4 months during his rehab) and the fans will always stand by him.
Get well soon Theo, we adore you, love you and most importantly believe in you. By the way all those who think our season is derailed because of this injury better hide because they dont understand this team well enough. This is a team and not a bunch of players playing for their wages, they know who they and most importantly who they play for. At Arsenal we may not win all but we never give up. Come on you Gunners this just needs to be used as a springboard than as a downslide.
Regards
Vinay