Arsene Wenger has been talking about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain:
Until the end of the season there is no problem and if he continues to play like this I am convinced he will go to Euro 2012.
Arsene, please stop and think!
Call me sad but earlier this week I popped off and met the library van down the road and a new arrival appeared. I always have a peep around the football section and there it was:
Theo – Growing up fast..
The regulars here on Highbury House know that Theo Walcott is a huge favourite of mine and yes, maybe sometimes my view is clouded a tad because his schooling followed the same path as mine, albeit a vast number of years divide our attendance to the same secondary school.
Each day/week, there would always be something in the local papers or news about young Theo and his footballing/athletic ability but reading back then meant little, he was just another pupil with potential.
Theo was not a footballer from an early age – in fact it wasn’t until he was about ten years old that he started to play the game, unlike so many who start so much earlier.
As time went by his footballing ability soon got noticed and as we all know, he learned his game at Southampton. He roomed with fellow players around the same age and was looked after by the staff at the Hampshire club. He always had people around him to help him on his journey through the game we all love.
Then in January 2006, Arsene Wenger made his move and beat many other clubs in the race to sign Theo Walcott, boy was I chuffed…..
In my opinion, that year was the worst in Theo’s progress as a footballer.
Over the following months, there was plenty of euphoria surrounding our new youngster. He hadn’t played a single game for his new club, yet the then England manager paid a visit to Arsenal’s training ground and watched on whilst Theo and the rest of the players were put through their paces.
Walcott believed that Sven was there to watch Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole, but Cole and Campbell teased Theo, telling him that Sven was there to watch him train, to see if he was worth a place in the England squad – Theo laughed at the thought, after all, he was just 16 years old, and had yet to feature for his new club!
Then what happened, happened, Theo was named in the World Cup squad and in the May of 2006, he travelled to Portugal for a five-day training session and that’s when reality hit home.
Theo found it tough, he was still a ‘kid’ amongst people who knew each other, players who played together and he felt lost and alone.
So much so, he broke and called his agent in tears, he’d had enough…..
His now fiance Mel was flown out to be with him and the two of them spent time with Mr & Mrs Beckham. His fellow Arsenal team-mates didn’t travel, they were in Paris to play Barcelona in the Champions League Final and but for Nigel Reo-Coker and his now Fiance Mel and of course The Beckhams, maybe Theo would have returned home from that England training camp.
We all know the rest about the World Cup that followed don’t we… To this day, I think it had a massive impact on his club career and not for the better….
Alex Oxlaide-Chamberlain is a little older than Theo was when he made it into the full international squad and ok, he has played a few games for us, unlike Theo had when he was called up but….
Is it really the right time for Chamberlain?
Should he be encouraged by our manager to be called up for the full international squad for his country and risk an early knock back, or even a burnout or should he be left in the under 21’s for another year?
Or should Arsene just keep quiet, let Chamberlain carry on with the under 21’s and let his club career take priority?
We all know he’ll be good enough, just maybe right now he’s not old enough – not old enough to be around all the hype that will travel with him…
Just like it did with Theo and look what it did for him…….
Happy friday all…
For Mr Palmer…
Feherty is a Golf Channel announcer who finds very unique, colourful and uninhibited ways of explaining or describing whatever is on his mind…… Probably always on time delay these days.
Feherty Quotes:
“Fortunately, he (Rory) is 22 years old so his right wrist should be the strongest muscle in his body.”
“That ball is so far left, Lassie couldn’t find it if it was wrapped in bacon.”
“I am sorry Nick Faldo couldn’t be here this week. He is attending the birth of his next wife.”
“They don’t do comedy at the Masters. The Masters, for me, is like holding onto a really big collection of gas for a week. It’s like having my buttocks surgically clenched at Augusta General Hospital on Wednesday, and surgically unclenched on Monday on the way to Hilton Head.”
Jim Furyk’s swing – “It looks like an octopus falling out of a tree.”
“He’s (Luke Donald) a bloody walking ATM. I slid my AmEx between the cheeks of his ass and out popped $500.”
Describing VJ’s prodigious practice regime – “VJ hits more balls than Elton John’s chin.”
“That’s a great shot with that swing.”
“It’s OK – the bunker stopped it.”
At Augusta 2011 – “It’s just a glorious day. The only way to ruin a day like this would be to play golf on it.”
“That was a great shot – if they’d put the pin there today.”
“Everything moves except his bowels.”
“Watching Phil Mickelson play golf is like watching a drunk chasing a balloon near the edge of a cliff.”
“That green appears smaller than a Pygmie’s nipple”.
One thing with your article, is that you assume each individual development is the same. But there will always be an exception to the rule. Walcott, AOC, Ramsey, Wilshere are all individuals and they will all develop or not at a different time scale.
Is it not time that we stop comparing one with the other:
I speak from my experiences of working with and teaching sport to groups of people of different ages and abilities.
Morning all….
Hi Lee, re-runs this morning or just goal of the week to watch? 😉
Cricket so far…. 🙁
The BM
I’m not making that assumption, honest. It’s very clear to see that Chamberlain is built like a brick out house and is a lot stronger than Theo was when he was called up in 2006 but, if Ox goes off to the Euros, and England go all the way, when does he rest, and does he rest for long enough?
Jack is of a similar build, where is he now?
agger out for scousers, who we missing?
The goals will be on soon, I’m sure, one of ours against the yiddos must be goal of the week 😛
In fact all of them should be….
Very good post, and I wholeheartedly agree. Why put pressure on the lad when its not needed. The whole England debacle cannot have been good for Theo, especially at club level. Watched a youtube vid of Chambo and Henderson doing kick ups with a tennis ball. And it shocked me how young Chambo was, Hes at an age where he is technically free. Free to be fearless, free to try something different, even if it doesnt come off, free to play the game his own way.
As though he could be playing on a school playground or at Old Trafford and it wouldnt make a difference.
Ox is a completely different character to Walcott, he’s young, confident and instinctive, Walcott was young and thought too much about football. Walcott hadn’t played at all in the Prem and Ox has proven he can cut it albeit in limited fixtures.
If they’re not afraid to take him they should take him, he’s got the lot.
i mean if they’re not afraid to play him, they should take him!!!
Morning all,
Rico, i thought there must be something about Theo that made you so keen on him, same school a, all by a few years.
But to be quite honest with you Theo i thought would have come on a lot more after all this time, he showed great promiss but i have been dissappointed by his rise to stardom. Theo has shown that he wants to finish up as a central striker, But at the moment he has not done near enough for me, Theo has blistering pace but rarely uses it to his best advantage. What Theo has in speed he seems to lack in brains, that speed is dreaded by full backs it frightens the life out of them but sadly Theo lacks the dribbling skills needed to round the full back he shy’s away from all contact and rarely puts a challenge in, on recieving the ball Theo will knock it straight back and turn and go on a forward run but very seldom will it result in a pass back to him, His position requires him to round the full back and take it to the by line and execute a decent cross hopefully he would look up to see if there is anyone there but he doesnt. At the moment Theo has not lived up to my expectations Where Chamberlain has come in and mixed it up with the older players he is put up against, he gets stuck in and works hard. Whether Chamberlain will progress and be the shineing light is a bit early to say but if he was to be included in the England set up i could see him grab the oppotunity with both hands, the experience would benifit him and us for the future. I feel that Theo has been a bit of a late developer all though he had an early start he has been very slow grasping the work rate that is expected. Its my belief that if he stays with us Wenger will continue with Theo down the wing untill he loses some of his speed then maybe if his football brain has developed better he may just get his chance.
But great post as per normal 🙂
Thanks Cpt, you god a link to that vid?
Joe, i understand that but for me Arsenal come first and i don’t want him missing any part of next season through burn out, he’s still young, keep him away from the england set up for another year or so, he’s got plenty of time ahead of him for that…
Just like i pray they don’t even think of calling up Wilshere…
Morning Lee great comment mate, i started to giggle but as i neared the end i was in tears blinding mate blinding, glad your back with it mate, very sorry to hear of your loss mate.
Yeah, I see waht you mean Rico, I think the issue might be that if he and/or Wilshire dont make the Euros they’ll probably make the Olympics.
Morning Steve,
I thought you knew 😉
I truly believe that his England call up did him great harm mentally, at sixteen he was called up for England and he maybe though football was going to be a breeze, it’s not as he has since found out. He blows hot and cold, too many cold I agree but we all know he has a good game in him as we saw on sunday. Now all he needs to do is play that way a lot more often…
The difference with Chamberlain is his father, his father keeps his head in the right place and his feet on the ground and won’t let him stop believing he can improve.
Theos Dad, well he was all for buying the newspapers and watching the news about his son, something Theo couldn’t stomach.
Wenger encouraged Sven to take him to the WC, he shouldn’t have, he should have made it clear he wasn’t ready….
Joe, Theo might make the Olymipics too, the 100 metres 😉
Haha, he wants to watch out if Ryo’s about.
Have a good day all.
Talking of posts Steve, your ref one was meant to post yesterday, but i lost it when the internet crashed…. iit’s somewhere in my emails so will incorporate it in tomorrows pre-match….
Got to go out but will def catch up later 🙂
OK boss 🙂
Rico, do you have an injury update for tomorrow? I know agger is out what about gerrard?
Thanks Steve
Good morning guys and chicks of the Gunners’ faith.
Hope you are all fine
I do not know what you others think however I do feel that with comments such as he did above and regarding Theo, I do think that AW shoots himself in the foot. First of all I do prefer that no national team takes any of our players. They always seem to get injured. And I prefer to have our own players have a restful summer rather than sunning themselves on the playing field while we watch them playing and maybe getting hurt in the process.
Secondly the worst thing that happened to Theo was that he was selected for both the under21 and the national team at the same time. Theo was here and there and everywhere. Yet he belonged nowhere. Then there was some animosity between some of the national team players regarding Walcott since they saw him as overhyped and he was not supposed to be there.
So yes while I agree that some of the Arsenal youngsters are a much better fare than some of the nationals on show, OX being one of them, I would rather the ones we have stay at home and wait for their turn when they grow up.
Ryo is another one, couple of good games for Bolton and Japan are ready to play him – is he truly ready??
😆 Joe, catch you soon, have a good day
I don’t Lee, i’ll go check….
Gerrards injury is being ‘assessed’ – fingers crossed….
It’s that Dick Kite i always worry about….
morning devil,
just how i feel too, they will get their time, just let them grow up the right way and around the right people…
another thing, how many times did we see Theo play for England and no-one passed to him??
his call up was damaging, other players wouldn’t pass to him, yet it wasn’t his fault he was called up in 06….
News is that RvP is a doubt!!
FFS!
It is like the Almunia situation Rico. He was chosen by AW and put between the sticks. He played to his best and even though he was not AFC material he stayed humble and never said a bad word about neither the club nor the coaching staff even when he is not playing. Yet the majority of us supporters always blamed him when we should have blamed someone else.
The same with Theo. He was chosen. he was told to go and he could not refuse to. Yet he should have been protected from the club management.
Just someone might point it out…..no one can refuse a call up from the national team. If you do so you can face suspension from the domestic league. So Theo could not have refused it.
BDW….good article Rico.
RVP cannot play since he is suspended for one game I have been told.
ditto lee…..
Good point devil, It’s Wengers fault for putting them in the firing line…
It wouldn’t have ben an issue if afc had refused theo’s call up devil, he was 16 and hadn’t played a siingle game in the PL, AW should have been less encouraging, then Sven wouldn’t have even considered it.
But, there were many theories about why he was selected, one was Sven wanted to naff off the FA as he knew he was off, that all came about after the trick i/v with Sven…..
I think RvP can play, he’s on 5 bookings, the max is 8 now (Wath put me right the other day 😉 )
no TV, alledgedly…
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WU7vRV-gPyk
Why – he played the whole match for Belgium… 🙁
Phew 😛
Team News: Van Persie, Ramsey and Santos
Arsène Wenger has revealed the latest team news ahead of Saturday’s trip to Anfield.
on the situation after the internationals…
So far it is OK, we have no injuries from Wednesday night. Everybody looks alright.
on Van Persie coming off at half time…
It was planned by his manager because he knows we have a tough schedule. We are the only team in the world who plays Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday.
on Aaron Ramsey (ankle)…
It is too early for him, he has no chance for the weekend. He will be out for Milan as well.
on Johan Djourou (thigh)…
He is not far. He could be OK for Milan maybe.
on Andre Santos (ankle)…
He is doing good, he is not far as well – two weeks away from returning to the group. It is a bit ahead of time and he works with a fantastic attitude. He is unbelievably focused, motivated every day and he is a credit to himself. It is a joy to see how hard he works and sets himself targets. In two weeks we will assess how well he is doing in training.
on Francis Coquelin (hamstring)…
He is four weeks away.
That vid is really good lee, thanks 🙂
Morning all,
I always think back to the England / Sweden game in the 2006 world cup, Michael Owen popped his cruciate knee ligament in the first couple of minutes, we were short on forwards, the obvious like for like replacement was Theo, he was warming up on the line, Sven went with Crouch, he might as well have stabbed theo in the heart with a knife, it would have been less painful, his tournament ended there and then.
Maybe the Ox is being groomed to be Englands star for the 2018 world cup in Russia, that seems more likely, mind you if rico had her wicked way we wouldn’t see him until 2022 in Qatar.
Morning Micko,
WC 2014 would be ok, but 2022, that’s even better 😉
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may complain that Belgium’s use of Thomas Vermaelen in midweek could have aggravated the defender’s ankle injury.
Vermaelen, 26, played 90 minutes in the friendly against Greece on Wednesday night despite carrying the knock.
Wenger was incensed as he believed this risked worsening a problem which could force Vermaelen out of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool.
“I will look if we cannot put a complaint in,” said Wenger.
Micko, opting for Crouch said it all, Sven knew Theo wasn’t ready to play a whole game, which comes back to why take him, Bent should have gone that year….
Talking of England call ups, can’t believe Englebert Humperdink will be singing for England in the Eurovision Song contest 😉
Thank goodness the friendly fixtures are to reduce, we always seem to get one, and a major one too ahead of a massive game….
check your inbox Rico…..enjoy it. you will laugh a bit.
I will in a bit devil, just doing my friday chores, irioning 😮
thank you…
That’s my chores done 🙂
Now off with Fido, laters…..
Thomas Vermaelen is pictured training, as is RvP, so hopefully thats indicates they are both fit….
Laters
Afternoons Gunslingers,
Rico Partly I believe Walcott got robbed from his cocooning time. But a larger chunk comes down to himself living and riding the X-factor. Consistency in stardom is working on strengthening your weaknesses and still grow your forte. TW strikes me as struggling in development whenever the objective lies outside his comfort zone, athletic ability. He stifles himself in the focus on his assets and loses out on the rewards of flair.
Nonetheless fine post to debate if history could repeat.
Lee 😛 😛 😛
“Watching Phil Mickelson play golf is like watching a drunk chasing a balloon near the edge of a cliff.”
“That green appears smaller than a Pygmie’s nipple”. MOEHAHAHAHA.
Arsenal have signed young winger Tarum Dawkins from Blue Square Premier side, Luton Town for a ‘significant’ fee.
The 16-year-old has followed fellow youngsters Rio, Cole and Jay Dasilva out of the exit door at Kenilworth Road, as the brothers signed for Chelsea.
“This deal has been a lot more drawn out than others completed by the club in the last two years, and this reflects the level of interest show in Tarum,” Head of Youth Gregg Broughton told Luton’s official site.
“Immediately after our loss in the play-offs last season we were told that Tarum felt his future lay away from Kenilworth Road, and now after nine months of negotiations, we are delighted that Tarum has found a club that he feels can help him fulfil his dream of playing at the highest level.
“He is very quick both with and without the football, can play off both feet and therefore he will fit in very well with Arsenal’s style of play. Playing on either wing he is capable of beating full backs on both the inside and outside making him very difficult to play against.”
Hi DG, got to pop out but catch you later….
Hiya DG….some funny quotes on there!
Afternoon Gooners.
Afternoon Rico, your post, a heartfelt plea methinks…
Has there been any news on Matias Suarez?
Coach/Dutch/Lee. How ya doing guys?
Looks like Wenger is putting together a sprint relay team!
Lee funny as hell. Kept tapping my knee smiling.
Question: Best team in 50yrs thumped by the worst team in 15yrs; was a line on HH from Sunday’s events. Did it came from media or was it a HH classic???
Reason I ask is cuz RvP used the line in a interview with Dutch press. So I wonder if he’s reading HH.
Hiya AK, hares on sneakers. 😉
Tarum Dawkins, I can hardly contain myself, whoopi-doo-da !!!
ok AK, you on a teabreak mate??
Diaby is fit! 🙂
Catch you later
fit or fat?
Lee, the only thing holding Diaby back now is his bedsores !
Hi Lee, no time for tea today.
Everyone is going home for the weekend.
Diaby….. Forgotten what he looks like!
Fit eh? For how long??
A week? A month? A day?
So if Verm isn’t fit, that leaves Song as the only alternative.
Unless Djourou is rushed back. Or Miquel?
Then who fills in for Song in midfield???
Diaby?
Surely not…..
Evening fine ladies and gents….
Diaby fit, fit for what, a stint on the medics table 🙂
Sorry to have missed you AK, a ple yes, but for the OX 🙂
If we some how win tomorrow, we’ll be 4 points behind Sp**s. (I’m assuming that normal business will resume this weekend with Sp**s behind over any taking yet another well measured walloping from United)
Would you take a draw at Anfield right now Esp…?
Got it from an anonymous source wearing a trilby hat whispering behind his hand.
” Abou Diaby…… is secretly working on football related Hollywood scripts, keep it hush hush, you never met me.”
Then he slipped me a brown envelope. Scanned it:
http://1.2.3.9/bmi/img205.imageshack.us/img205/4907/diabyx.jpg
Hi DG – 😆
That page won’t load for me 🙁
Hiya Rico Try copying it into ur browser. It works on my end.
Rico – I sure wouldn’t!
The day Arsenal are happy for a draw will be a dark dark day!
Nothing short of 3 points will do tomorrow Rico.
Me neither, think that’s a bum link dutch.
How do Paul, think i’d probably settle for a draw tomorrow, always tough at Anfield.
As the scousers would say……….Amoff.
Try this one: http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/4907/diabyx.jpg
Right answer Esp 😉
But, i feel a draw is on the cards…..
Nighty Micko, have a good un..
Off for a spell. Back Lata.
Catch you 2morrow Micko.
Me too DG, off for dinner….
If theres anybody left 🙂 i want the three points and we should be able to secure them, No looking back lets go for everything and see where it takes us that way when the summer comes we know what we need.
i’m here steve….
Hi rico, Who’s this new lad what do we know about him
Evening fellas, diaby fit you say? Good, we missed him. I know a lot of follks don’t rate him but I do. I think he’s class and if not for his incessant injuries he ll be up there with the best…theo once said he’s the most skillful player in training.
Hiya Stan, pitty he hasn’t trained a bit more, but looking forward we used to say the same about Robin,Diaby may make the diference if he can string a few games together, you have more faith tham me stan, but i’de love to be proved wrong. How was your Date is she the one 🙂
no idea steve, other than he’s meant to be decent, but he’s 16! 😮
hi goonster – missed Diaby, you are kidding aren’t you…. 😉
Rico, did i read right when it said we paid a substantial fee for him
Evening steve, me date was swell. Took her dancing and karaoke singing then we went back to my place for some hot “goonster” loving. It was a great night. Ahhhhh. Evening rico.
not sure steve, substancial could mean 500k for AW 😉
I’m off guys, Corrie is ready and waiting and it’s about to get exciting… 😉
Be safe all and catch up tomorrow….
Nighty night
Glad to hear that Stan, she must be a Gooner or you would have probably upset her before you got back .
Rico, i take it Transfers limitations are not in place for under 18’s
Nte ricolicious or old square eyes 🙂
Ah well, seems like everybody is watching tele or having mad passionate Goonster, so night all.
yes, watching Benfica-Porto… 🙂
final score: 2-3 🙂
Rico is watching Coronation Street.
JM is watching Benfica.
And Stan is, well i dread to think…
Typical day on HH….
COYG
😛 AK
New Post up….