Tag Archives: Walcott

Walcott relishing underdog tag

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Theo Walcott believes that Arsenal (2/1 to win at Eastlands) will relish the fact they are the underdogs when they visit big-spending Manchester City (11/8 in the match betting, 9/4 the draw) on Sunday as they look to go above Roberto Mancini’s men in the table.

Walcott is obviously wary of the threat posed by a City side (11/2 to win the Premier League title) given their start to the campaign so far, but insists the pressure is off the Gunners (15/2), who will go above City with a win as they will have a better goal difference.

“Man City are probably one of the favourites for the league going into Sunday’s game and maybe favourites against us,” Walcott said.

“That’s good for us. We’ll go there with no fear and express ourselves and try to get that result we need.

“City are very strong. They beat Chelsea at their place. They have so much money and have fantastic players and I think they are starting to gel now.

“They are growing every single game but, hopefully, we can stutter their season.”

Walcott (7/2 to score at anytime on Sunday) is back in contention for a starting berth against City for the first time since August after missing the last six weeks with an ankle problem while on England duty.

The 21-year-old came on as a substitute during Arsenal’s Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek is hopeful that he has fully recovered from his ankle injury but is expecting some physical treatment from City when the sides go head-to-head.

“There have been a lot of breakages this season, more than normal,” Walcott said. “I’m a player who gets kicked all the time. I just have to get back up from it and move on.

“With training, hopefully I can get back to the physical side of things with my ankle.

“I’ve been whacked on it once but I think I need a couple more to be sure it’s okay.

“Wayne Bridge will be left-back at City. I’m sure I’ll take a few whacks and bruises but I’ll be fine.”

Captain Cesc Fabregas is back to full fitness and is set to return to Premier League action, while defender Bacary Sagna has also recovered from injury.

However, Laurent Koscielny is struggling with a back problem and Jack Wilshere is suspended.

City could welcome back striker Mario Balotelli to the squad following his knee injury although former Arsenal defender Kolo Toure is a doubt with a hamstring complaint.

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Walcott reveals World Cup woe

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Arsenal (7/1 to win the Premier League) winger Theo Walcott has revealed that he cried after Fabio Capello gave him the shock news that he would not go to the World Cup in South Africa.

The former Southampton youngster looked like he was set to make the 23-man squad that went to the biggest tournament in the world after featuring in all England’s pre-tournament friendly games.

However Walcott was the surprise omission from the side as seven players were cut from the initial 30-man squad picked by Capello.

The Italian manager decided to take midfielders Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joe Cole and James Milner who all featured in the Three Lions tournament which ultimately ended in disappointment.

After drawing their opening two games of the competition against the USA and Algeria they scrapped past Slovenia, only to be thrashed 4-1 in the knockout stage against old rivals Germany.

Walcott will have watched on as England under-achieved in South Africa and has recently explained how he received the news that he would not play in the tournament.

He said: “He (Capello) just said, ‘I’m sorry. I’m not going to bring you to South Africa, but I’ll see you in 2012 for the Euros.

“I didn’t know what to say at all. He said, ‘have a good break and good luck. I’ll see you soon’. I wished him all the best.

“There are always disappointments in football, this was my biggest one yet.

“Actually, I did have a tear to be fair with my cousin and my mate,? he added.

The 21-year-old only started 12 Premier League games for the Gunners (7/1 to win the FA Cup) last season as he struggled to hit top form after recovering from injury.

Walcott was just finding a regular place in the side before the end of the regular season when Capello was deciding who to take to the World Cup.

However it seemed to be too soon for Walcott who believes he stands in a better position now after fully recovering from injury.

He said: “The full pre-season will definitely help. It was an on-off season last season and it’s difficult to come back from that. I would just get back and I’d get another injury.

“This year I’m just going to get out there and show people what I can do. It’s all I can do really.”

Walcott has been left out of the England under-21 squad which suggests Capello already has the paceman in his plans for the qualification matches for the 2012 European Championships.

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Walcott out of Three Lions squad

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England coach Fabio Capello has sprung a big surprise by leaving Theo Walcott out of his World Cup squad, but Shaun Wright-Phillips, Stephen Warnock and Joe Cole have got the nod.

Walcott made the headlines four years ago when then-boss Sven Goran Eriksson included him in his 23 for the World Cup in Germany, despite the fact he had hardly figured for Arsenal and never played for England.

The youngster did not make it on to the pitch back in 2006 and he will not be stepping out in South Africa either after Capello decided to leave him out.

The news does come as a surprise as Walcott played a key role in helping England qualify and he looked a certainty to be named in the squad when he scored a hat-trick as the Three Lions romped to a 4-1 victory in Croatia.

Since then the winger has struggled for fitness and form and he failed to convince Capello in the games against Mexico and Japan that he was worthy of a place on the plane.

Walcott’s final delivery came in for heavy criticism and it seems as though that could have been the deciding factor.

Capello has opted to go with Shaun Wright-Phillips, who hardly played for Manchester City in the second half of the season as he was kept out of the side at Eastlands by Adam Johnson, who has amazingly been left out of Capello’s 23.

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole is another player to have survived the cull despite only just returning to full fitness, but it is easy to see why Capello has included him.

In the striking department, Sunderland forward Darren Bent, who banged in 24 goals for the Black Cats last season, has been left out of the squad, while Emile Heskey who managed just three goals for Aston Villa and was kept out of the side by John Carew, gets the nod.

It is argued that Heskey would complement Wayne Rooney, who is 10/1 to finish the tournament as the top goalscorer, more but that will not wash with Bent who will be left wondering what elese he could have done to get into the squad.

It also means that Capello will just be taking four strikers in the form of Rooney, Heskey, Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch, when many believe you should take five.

Elsewhere, decisions had to be made at the back with Warnock getting the nod ahead of Leighton Baines, while Ledley King made it ahead of his Spurs team-mate Michael Dawson.

Capello has also confirmed that Gareth Barry will be fit enough to be included despite struggling with ankle ligament damage that could force him to miss the opening game against the USA.

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