http://arsenal-mania.com/articles/3105816/Wenger-praise-for-Walcott-better-than-Messi.html
Wenger praise for Walcott, better than Messi
By Jonathan Chong on Saturday, October 18, 2008
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger had high praise for striker Theo Walcott yesterday, saying that the English striker was ahead of other strikers in his age group.
Wenger made special reference to Barcelona's Lionel Messi, saying that Walcott was the better player of the two and had more potential for growth.
He said: "He's different [to Messi at that age] and I think he's more.
"If you have to look for a weakness in Messi you would say it is his ability to run without the ball, behind the defender.
"When he takes the ball to his feet he's like a Ferrari. But Theo is more a guy who has the timing to run off the ball and that is something that is difficult to find.
"We had Marc Overmars who was especially good at that and I'm a great, great lover of movement off the ball."
The Frenchman also said that he is not expecting Theo Walcott to be good at defending, but that he should be looking to create danger going forward.
Walcott's game has come under criticism from some quarters for lacking a good defensive foil to it, but whilst Wenger acknowledges that defending is a team game, it is not the Englishman's speciality.
Wenger said: "People say he's not the best at tracking back. I believe his natural game is to create danger going forward, because that's in his head.
"If you want to play him right-back, that's not his strength.
"He's not naturally a defensive midfielder, he's the guy who can make the difference going forward.
"You feel that, if the ball comes at the right moment, not only can he go in behind, but also, when he's had the chance to finish, he has a decent shot."
Wenger also had praise for Walcott's improvement in his upper body strength. Where he would previously be knocked easily off the ball, he said: "He is a man now in the fight.
"You feel he has much more power than a year ago, or six months ago.
"We do a bit of strengthening of the upper body but not weights, because I believe in football it's more about coordination.
"Weights make you more rigid and coordination makes you more flexbile and Walcott is a guy who has natural power. He will naturally become a strong upper body player."
Wenger praise for Walcott, better than Messi
By Jonathan Chong on Saturday, October 18, 2008
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger had high praise for striker Theo Walcott yesterday, saying that the English striker was ahead of other strikers in his age group.
Wenger made special reference to Barcelona's Lionel Messi, saying that Walcott was the better player of the two and had more potential for growth.
He said: "He's different [to Messi at that age] and I think he's more.
"If you have to look for a weakness in Messi you would say it is his ability to run without the ball, behind the defender.
"When he takes the ball to his feet he's like a Ferrari. But Theo is more a guy who has the timing to run off the ball and that is something that is difficult to find.
"We had Marc Overmars who was especially good at that and I'm a great, great lover of movement off the ball."
The Frenchman also said that he is not expecting Theo Walcott to be good at defending, but that he should be looking to create danger going forward.
Walcott's game has come under criticism from some quarters for lacking a good defensive foil to it, but whilst Wenger acknowledges that defending is a team game, it is not the Englishman's speciality.
Wenger said: "People say he's not the best at tracking back. I believe his natural game is to create danger going forward, because that's in his head.
"If you want to play him right-back, that's not his strength.
"He's not naturally a defensive midfielder, he's the guy who can make the difference going forward.
"You feel that, if the ball comes at the right moment, not only can he go in behind, but also, when he's had the chance to finish, he has a decent shot."
Wenger also had praise for Walcott's improvement in his upper body strength. Where he would previously be knocked easily off the ball, he said: "He is a man now in the fight.
"You feel he has much more power than a year ago, or six months ago.
"We do a bit of strengthening of the upper body but not weights, because I believe in football it's more about coordination.
"Weights make you more rigid and coordination makes you more flexbile and Walcott is a guy who has natural power. He will naturally become a strong upper body player."
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nice one wenger...
