Can Arsenal’s Theo Walcott be the next Thierry Henry?
For those that watched Arsenal’s rout of Slavia Prague this week in the Champions League will no doubt have witnessed some history in the making.
Not only was the score line equaled to the best ever victory for a side since Juventus tore Olympiakos apart in 2003 but also matched Arsenal’s own personal best European result. That result came against Standard Liege in the 1993-94 Cup Winners’ Cup (which Arsenal won that season – an omen perhaps?)
The win also marked a 12th straight victory for the Gunners (the best run they’ve had under Wenger), their record being 14. The history making I’m referring to in particular is one that has only just begun and long may it continue.
18 year old Theo Walcott scored twice in the match, the first Englishman to score for the team in Europe since Sol Campbell in THAT final. Since his arrival from Southampton the fresh faced finisher has had a lot of expectations piled onto him, especially after being picked for the World Cup last year which he didn’t feature in.
Prior to last years tournament Sven made comparisons of Walcott to Pele after the Brazilian featured in his first World Cup at the same age of 17 and stealing the show. No pressure then Theo! There is someone else that Theo reminded me of though in the Slavia Prague match….that lightning pace, the threaded passes, the finishing.
If it’s not obvious enough already then I’m talking about Thierry. Now please don’t jump to conclusions and think that what I’m saying is Walcott can be the next Henry but…. Walcott can be the next Henry! Now before you start choking on your own saliva or write this whole article off as rubbish just hear me out.
Let’s not forget, first of all, that Arsene Wenger is the master when it comes to developing players and bringing the best of their abilities out to their full potential. It takes time and many started writing Arsenal off in recent years (especially after Henry’s departure) but the team have made those who criticised eat their words in the best possible way – playing world class football that everyone has to salute, including the Slavia Prague fans who were applauding Arsenal despite the embarrassing score line for their side.
The two teams had never met before this game and I bet Slavia Prague are wishing they never had! Fabregas’ second goal came after an 18 pass move, that’s Argentina football right there! Even commentator Jim Beglin said he was “privileged” to be watching this team. Well said Jim!
It’s taken a while for Walcott to show his true potential and come out of his shell but with the confidence backed by his manager, voiced appraisals from team-mates van-Persie and Fabregas, young Theo was immediately taken under the legendary wing of Mr Henry – like a king coming to the end of his reign tutoring the chosen apprentice to someday rule his land! I can almost hear them now…”One day my son, this will all be yours.”
Seriously how often did we see Thierry with his arm around his adopted protégé last season whispering the secrets of the game to him? Almost every time he wasn’t dancing with Adebayor is your answer! And even at the final whistle on Tuesday I noticed Gilberto Silva pulling Theo to one side and giving him some advice. With this protection, support and belief supplied to the young man by his ‘band of brothers’ can only justify the fans’ patience and encourage them to believe that Wenger knows what he’s doing and the players all know something special is there.
When being interviewed after the game Theo commented on his “Thierry Henry finish” for his second goal. Well he has had first hand experience and guidance by the man himself and he was right. After watching him race down the left flank I was shouting at the screen for him to square it across goal for the open Adebayor but instead he coolly slotted it in with the outside of his right boot. One word quickly entered my head: reminiscent.
After his award winning cameo role last week against Bolton, Walcott was rewarded with a starting role again the Czech’s. The Englishman grabbed the opportunity with both hands. And he started up front in favour of Eduardo who remained on the bench. Didn’t Henry start off as a midfielder too? I can see a star being moulded and the future’s bright.
Yes, Walcott is an ambassador for England in a multi ethnic squad but for those that criticise the lack of Englishmen in Arsenal’s team all I say is they are a real representation of a multi cultural modern London. Young, hungry and with the world at his feet if Walcott continues his rapid progress we’ll witness the true transformation of England’s future – at Arsenal! And if the Gunners continue the way they are playing then we’ll witness the next batch of “invincibles” unfolding. At this still early stage in the season though all I can say is the next two Premiership matches will be the young side’s biggest tests.
Liverpool at Anfield and Manchester United at home are going to be key games and will show their true ambitions and desire to compete with the big guns. Just imagine if Arsenal were to win the league this season to defy the big spending rivals that snap closely at their heels.
For now though, the only thing to truly declare is this: bring on the scousers and mancs because Arsenal have got another record to smash – that 12 game winning streak.
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Who said Walcott can not be like King Henry? If you remember when Henry came to arsenal he started in the wing as walcott did under thesame manager Wenger “THE MASTER”. I personally believe that walcott can be like henry, even better because of his age. The two lads have thesame qualities such as pace, ball control and good finishing. So, Henry go, young Henry remain.
really cant argue much with what’s written in this article…. all i wanna say is, dont put pressure on the young lad by drawing comparisons, let him carve his own little niche
walcott is amazing but henry is a legend nobody will ever be the next henry
For me the one major proof that Walcott could be the next Henry is that Henry said so himself. That’s quite some praise.
I agree with most points in your article except the title. Why do you (by that I do not mean you personally but just about any footbll fan) insist on comparing young players to older legends. I understand the nostalgic feelings we have of previous stars which have come and gone: Man Utd fans want another Keane, Arsenal fans want another Adams (they need one!!) or Henry and Tottenham want another Klinsman. We all want something from the past but new players are just new players, not reincarnations of previous ones. Messi is now Messi and Anderson cannot be refered to as the ‘new Ronaldinho’ simply because Anderson is currently playing better than the Barca player.
Leaving that aside I think that Walcott does have the ability to take charge of Arsenal like others have before him and his qualities are somewhat similar to Henry’s but he has a lot of himself in his game and to call him the ‘new Henry’ seems insulting. ‘As good as Henry’ would be appropriate and a praise.
Walcott and Bendtner up front period. Eduardo is a nice player but seems to score more for Croatia than Arsenal and he can play on the wing. Walcott is coming into his own and is going to be a stud for Arsenal. All the equipment is there, pace, technique and now he can finish.
Adebayor is so hit and miss and wastes a lot of chances. Hasn’t anyone else noticed that Bendtner scores at almost every opportunity that he has to play?
Yup, Walcott and Bendtner up front is the future and I think the future is now.
Roll on you Gunners!!!!
Walcott can be the next henry. I say this not because of the need for a Hednry-like figure, but because of Wenger’s remarkable ability to achieve clones of his best players. Look at Diaby and tell me he doesnt resemble Viera. Look at Hleb and Rosicky playing and tell me they dont look like Pires and Ljunberg. Denilson is so much like Fabregas. Someone mentioned that the Gunners need another Tony Adams. Well look at Toure. The same area to cover, approx the same size, the same forays deep into enemy territory often finished off by a goal. What Wenger lacks now is a clone of the best winger ever in the history of the League(go ahead argue, I dont care)-Marc Overmars.
Slavia Prague…….enough said. Idk why everyone is anointing him after his first good game in a long time for arsenal, and against a crap team at that. IF he can do this against United in 10 ten days then MAYBE you can start the hype machine up again……..and their will never be another Henry, period. Henry was a freak of nature, a winger who could finish with the best of them. Walcott doesn’t have anywhere near the technical ability of Henry, nor will he ever. And as far as finishing goes, hes not that gifted in that department either(one goal will not tell u about a player). Just because O’Shea chipped Almunia beautifully a few years back does that make him the next Ruud? The one thing Walcott does have though is pace, and a shitload of it. hes is probably the fastest player in england and maybe Europe(although Odonkor and Ronaldo do give him a run for his money) and thats is the main way in which he gets his goals. he will enevr be Henry technically, good at best and will never be a a world class finisher. Hes more like the prototype English player, hell become the best you can expect from those types, raw pace and work rate combined with good technical ability and finishing, not great. i see him as Andy Johnson but substantially better. But definitely in that same mold as him.
And while on the topic, im form new York so im used to hype as much as anyone but being an EPL nut for as long a si cna remember im obviously exposed to british publications on a daily basis ad what Im amazed at is the sheer amount of hype you guys generate about your own players and national team. Theres nothing wrong with favoring your favorite team or country but the press and basically the fans, who ARE the press, build up the English national team and its players as the greatest things to ever take the pitch and then when they fail to meet your ridiculously high levels of expectations you abuse them to no end. How many teams in the world would kill for a quarterfinals berth in almost eveyr competition the play in? Alot. yet because you consider them the best players you feel that thats not good enough. Now I love the English team almost as much as I love Man U but enough is enough. Unrelenting scrutiny and pressure is hurting the team and its players more so then the tactics the coach uses. You ran Sven out of the job for not winning, yet the guy rarely if ever lost a game. And every time a great talent comes along you put him on a pedestal and claim him to be the savior of England and the best player in the world. And in the case of Walcott, when he plays well just once you all jump on the bandwagon of hype. Same with Rooney and same with Owen before that. Rooney had a great run at Euro 2004 and you expect him to carry the team every time out and when he fails to do so ur disappointed? When Michael Owen scored that amazing goal against Argentina you proclaimed him the next maradonna and expect him to dribble through his defenders every time out when his game has NEVER EVER been based on that type of play. The quicker you learn to tone it down the quicker England can get back to being the team it can be, one of the elites in the world. And if not, well get ready for rooting for someone else at the next major competition, cuz it wont be england. And thats teh most disappointing thing fo all.
Liverpool want another Gerrard and carra
just for the future give us spares.
Anyway lucas leiva is very similar than gerrard
only when Gerrard was his age Gerrard was a hacking bastard 
Ardi, there’s nothing wrong with creating some hype after witnessing a talented youngster light up a game with his talents (especially if he’s playing for your club and country). It’s part of the beautiful game and if you are a true fan you’d be excited at the prospects the future holds for your club. The way Arsenal are currently playing I’m sure I’m not the only gunner out there who’s enjoying it. What with the criticism the club has endured in recent years!
Also speaking of Theo involved with England at this stage of his career already is another level completely, I agree to that. He still has alot to learn but again you can’t help get excited by future talent. What about Freddy Adu? Wasn’t there alot of hype created around him? Wasn’t he expected to take the world by storm and conquer all? Didn’t he too, like Theo, go to the World Cup last year but not feature? The future is still very prosperous for Adu though as he is a really gifted player. The game’s evolved over the years and expecations are high.
“Yes, Walcott is an ambassador for England in a multi ethnic squad but for those that criticise the lack of Englishmen in Arsenal’s team all I say is they are a real representation of a multi cultural modern London”
Oh behave mate, how can you justify the non Englishness of Arse-anal and compare it to a multi-national London! Wenger doesnt fancy English players pure and simple, but thats another debate.
I was at The Emirates on Tuesday (proudly wearing my West Ham shirt!), and Arse-anal were good, but the opposition was shockingly poor.
I thought Walcott started quite poorly and then got much better.
I hope he does well and inspires Arse-anal to the Premiership this season, but you need to give him a break and not ask if he’s the next Henry.
Henry should have been the World Player of the Year or whatever the award is, and he was a one-off, comparisons with Henry and Pele place unfair expectations on the lad.
Knowing Wenger, he’ll sell Walcott and sign a young Spanish or Greek striker and all the Arsenal fans will be jeering on and saying that he’s a genius. Funny you mentioned the “non-Englishness” of Arsenal. I was playing the newest FM and I saw that PSV has an English player on loan. One player. The same amount Arsenal has. Why doesn’t PSV play in the Premier League?
walcott is fantastico……..sir alex shld buy him and sell saha
There will never be another Henry. Walcott is the next Walcott and thats it.