Arsenal 4 West Brom 1

[Kano]

Theo was just smiling with his socks down walking around his or Kieran Gibbs' baby son....not quite sure, I'd guess it was Walcott's. Nothing really to see here....

That's an interesting thing to say. He has committed himself to doing that now and will probably be called out on it if he doesn't.

Also if the 'playing through the middle' angle to the contract negotiations of a few years ago was the total rubbish every pundit and blogger has had us believe.....why is Wenger mentioning it at ALL now?

Pressurising Walcott through praise and expectation whilst contract talks are talking place. Wenger probably thrives on being called out on stuff, driving him to prove people wrong, he won't care about these comments if he acts otherwise. Remember, he has said similar before now about his position. I just can't see him picking Fio ahead of Bif for most games. Although, I think a key part of Walcott staying is going to be about being played as a striker. If he doesn't believe that will happen, he'll be off. To be fair he has a point too. The stat thrown up at the end of the game was he has scored the last three prem hat tricks for us. The boy can score goals, he is only so effective on the wings because he'll never be a guy that can beat a man with skill and composure.

[Niall_Quinn]

The stat thrown up at the end of the game was he has scored the last three prem hat tricks for us.

Last two, RvC got three prior to that.

[Kano]

Show-off

And RVC's goals have been struck from the record, so no longer count.

[Munchies]

WHo starts in the fa cup final as striker then?

Got to be Feo

[Kano]

Which means it'll be the opposite.

Ospina

[Niall_Quinn]

WHo starts in the fa cup final as striker then?

Got to be Feo

Is Sanogo's loan finished now? If so...

[Niall_Quinn]

Show-off

And RVC's goals have been struck from the record, so no longer count.

Fair point.

Theo (unless he leaves)

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

Pressurising Walcott through praise and expectation whilst contract talks are talking place. Wenger probably thrives on being called out on stuff, driving him to prove people wrong, he won't care about these comments if he acts otherwise. Remember, he has said similar before now about his position. I just can't see him picking Fio ahead of Bif for most games. Although, I think a key part of Walcott staying is going to be about being played as a striker. If he doesn't believe that will happen, he'll be off. To be fair he has a point too. The stat thrown up at the end of the game was he has scored the last three prem hat tricks for us. The boy can score goals, he is only so effective on the wings because he'll never be a guy that can beat a man with skill and composure.

I'm sure Wenger thrives on proving people wrong.....we all do, but I think it is probably a stretch to suggest that he thrives on being openly and impudently questioned about what he does, so much so that he would contrive a way to encourage it.

I am a Theo fan and grow tired at the revisionist attitude to doing him down many have taken to this season......However, he isn't going to walk into any top club worth being at and dictate playing through the middle. So it would be foolish for him to walk on that basis. He re signed last time because he got a better deal and came to agreement with the club and that was without forcing anyone's hand about playing through the middle.

In pre season he was quoted as saying something along the lines of 'Can't wait till me and Sanchez can play together down the wings......Arsenal will be a force...blah blah blah'. I suspect he has made some peace with playing wide, even if it isn't his ideal situation.

[Niall_Quinn]

I'm sure Wenger thrives on proving people wrong.....we all do, but I think it is probably a stretch to suggest that he thrives on being openly and impudently questioned about what he does, so much so that he would contrive a way to encourage it.

I am a Theo fan and grow tired at the revisionist attitude to doing him down many have taken to this season......However, he isn't going to walk into any top club worth being at and dictate playing through the middle. So it would be foolish for him to walk on that basis. He re signed last time because he got a better deal and came to agreement with the club and that was without forcing anyone's hand about playing through the middle.

In pre season he was quoted as saying something along the lines of 'Can't wait till me and Sanchez can play together down the wings......Arsenal will be a force...blah blah blah'. I suspect he has made some peace with playing wide, even if it isn't his ideal situation.

Best way for Theo to guarantee a starting spot at centre is to make it impossible for the manager to do anything else. It's up to the player ultimately.

[Kano]

I'm sure Wenger thrives on proving people wrong.....we all do, but I think it is probably a stretch to suggest that he thrives on being openly and impudently questioned about what he does, so much so that he would contrive a way to encourage it.

I am a Theo fan and grow tired at the revisionist attitude to doing him down many have taken to this season......However, he isn't going to walk into any top club worth being at and dictate playing through the middle. So it would be foolish for him to walk on that basis. He re signed last time because he got a better deal and came to agreement with the club and that was without forcing anyone's hand about playing through the middle.

In pre season he was quoted as saying something along the lines of 'Can't wait till me and Sanchez can play together down the wings......Arsenal will be a force...blah blah blah'. I suspect he has made some peace with playing wide, even if it isn't his ideal situation.

I wouldn't say he'd contrive a situation just for that to happen but going by the last five years (or more) he is certainly happy to slap down his experience card over anyone who questions his worn out methods. Of course, we're all just a bunch of mongs carping on about the perfect scenario whilst he lives and breathes it everyday but he hasn't earned the WUMger tag without reason (it doesn't just exist on this forum).

Theo would do best to stay here as you say, although I do think either of the Manc clubs would take him - and ironically probably play him wide too. In our team he can score from wide right but the problem is like nearly everyone else, he wants to come inside far too often and while that suits Wenger's idea of how football should be played, it's just another facet of our current style that prevents us from pushing on. Given the choice I'd rather keep him but I think he'll he off this summer.