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Chairman Peter Hill-Wood and mascot William Poole present Wenger with a book of tributes |
Wenger tells his rivals: ‘Catch Theo if you can’
Youngster impresses in full first-team start against Watford
ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has warned the Gunners’ rivals: You won’t catch Theo Walcott.
The 17-year-old impressed during his first full start in the first team against Watford on Saturday and came on against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday.
His intervention at club level follows his two electric goals for the England under-21s against Germany last week.
It has left Wenger licking his lips – and comparing his contribution to fellow teenage star Cesc Fabregas, now an essential choice in the first team.
Wenger said: “For a 17-year-old boy, Theo’s final ball was very good. Even at this level Walcott can be decisive and make a difference. Fabregas is also still a teenager of course but you can see that he is not the same as he was when he was Theo’s age. The two of them have different styles and can complement each other well. Fabregas can give the ball to Theo, who can finish.”
Walcott was a surprise choice in the England World Cup squad during the summer and did not make an appearance as the national side crashed out of the tournament in the quarter-finals to Portugal.
Wenger now believes Walcott will show just why he was considered for England, in Arsenal colours.
In a warning to defenders who will face the young forward this season, Wenger added: “I played him on the left wing even though he’s not a real midfielder, he’s more of a striker. But no matter where he plays, you could see against Watford that if you give him a good pass you can never catch him.”
To mark 10 years at the Arsenal helm, Wenger was presented with a book of tributes from club chairman Peter Hill-Wood before Saturday’s match and mascot William Poole, who was born on the same day as the manager’s first Gunners match in 1996 away against Blackburn.
Wenger said: “It is a big honour for me. Our success is down to the quality of players I have had down the years, and the trust I got from the board and the fans.”
He added: “I have been very lucky in my career, I’ve had 17 years and only a few clubs. That’s very exceptional luck. I met this club 10 years ago and maybe I met them just at the right time of my career. It has worked out well.”
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