da cassino： Consistency. That’s the word and something every footballer needs to aspire to in the realms of the impatience and expectation of the modern game. You’ve either got it or you haven’t and in the case of Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott, one player’s career seems to have embarked on an upward curve whereas for the other their form has plateaued and frustratingly remains in mediocrity. I’m sure you don’t need to guess which description fits each player but there was always much expected of the ex-Saints academy pair after they made the big moves to either side of North London a few years back now.
da lvbet： Gareth Bale is the heartbeat of an exciting Spurs outfit who remain well in with a shout of their highest placed Premier League finish yet. Tall, powerful and devastatingly quick across both short and long distances describe the raiding Welshman who really shone and staked his claim as one of the best wingers in the division last term. Last year’s PFA Player of The Year has carried on his good form this season and you’d be hard pressed to find a better wide player who possesses pace, directness and precision in his crossing accuracy. It was only this week that the 22-year-old described a potential move to Barcelona or Real Madrid as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime dream’ amidst reported summer interest from the Spanish giants.
A mark of the Wales international’s ever-impressive game perhaps that he has been spoken about within the same breath as some of the Europe’s most fashionable clubs. Amidst obvious comparisons considering their similar upbringing, Arsenal fans look across enviously at the heightening form of Bale when comparing him to their very own wide man in Theo Walcott.
Making his mark in gaining his senior debut for Southampton two years before Bale in 2004, Walcott was dubbed the greater talent, with larger potential and a lightning quick likeness to one Thierry Henry. Whilst his pace remains frighteningly quick, it is what he does with it that has the ability to enthral or enrage. We go back to the word consistency, and whilst caps on Match of The Day display Bale ghosting past full back’s and whipping crosses into the opposing penalty area more often than not, caps of Walcott careering to the ground, failing to stay on his feet or disappearing down blind cul de sac’s paint the ever-inconsistent tone.
Don’t get me wrong; Theo Walcott’s productivity has improved somewhat with his assists to Robin Van Persie and he is the Gunners second highest scorer but it is how often he carries out these feats and the reality is that this occurs on a far too infrequent basis; emphasised even more due to Arsenal’s frustrations in failing to deliver on all fronts. For Arsenal fans, Walcott is not receiving plaudits from top European suitors but instead clocking up progress on a minimal scale and for every inch that Walcott improves, Bale is advancing a mile.
It is difficult to pin point just how much Walcott has improved this term. To be fair to the 23-year-old, he answered his critics undoubtedly with the brace scored in the pulsating 5-2 North London derby victory and after criticism of his widely regarded poor first half which reached new levels of anger and frustration, he showed a lot of character to take his chances clinically. But it always seems the case that Walcott is just doing ‘enough’ to remind Arsenal fans he is a talent whereby the strength and desire as characterised by Bale on a more regular basis is much more reassuring in terms of his long-term staying power as a true threat.
Walcott has often publically voiced his views to play through the middle but with Robin Van Persie still around and the ‘ball over the top’ game not representing Arsenal’s style, you can understand Arsene Wenger’s decisions to deploy his pace in the wide position. There is no doubt that Walcott manoeuvres himself into good positions but his decision making is still wide of the mark. Perhaps it is Bale’s upper body strength in comparison to Walcott which gives him the advantage in regaining composure when about to deliver a cross.
Bale’s position at Spurs is slightly different also with the Welshman representing the clubs outstanding winger with Aaron Lennon injury prone and Niko Kranjcar figuring less so. At Arsenal, Theo Walcott, has another ex-Saints player in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain breathing down his neck and you can’t underestimate just how much this may be playing on the mind of the elder Walcott with Arsenal fans growing increasingly attached to the younger, stronger and more fearless 18-year-old who has impressed when thrust into first team contention.
As we all know Bale started out as a left full back and has grown into the midfield role as his career has gone on. The Welshman didn’t have the best start to his Spurs career and it has only been since this shift in position that he has found his true role in the side. Perhaps it is the case that Walcott’s true role is still at large and despite his frame attracting us to the view that he wouldn’t cut it as a central striker, we have yet to see him play there too often under Wenger.
One thing’s for sure; the Southampton academy production line is in full operation and the club deserves massive credit for leading the Championship despite a policy to reluctantly part with their younger stars. In the remaining weeks of the season, it remains to be seen just who will come out on top in the battle of North London. Bale or Walcott?
Does Walcott frustrate you as an Arsenal fan? Will he eventually achieve consistency? Will Bale stick around if Harry Redknapp departs for the England job? Follow me @ http://twitter.com/Taylor_Will1989
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