(Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)
A few days ago, I wrote about who should go and who should stay in the current Arsenal line up. I did Part One and now for Part Two.
This section will examine the reserves that Arsenal regularly use and will determine who should stay and who should go.
Theo Walcott
Walcott has just signed a new deal that will keep him at the club till 2013. So this section on him seems a bit redundant.
Yet, a new deal cannot stop us from giving him a fair assessment of his future at this club. Walcott is a great player, don't get me wrong.
His hat-trick for England recently has proven that he is a gem. When Wenger swooped for this youngster from Southampton, many Arsenal fans wondered "Theo-who?". Now he wears the legendary No. 14 jersey left behind by fan favourite, Thierry Henry. But is he as good as Henry?
It is still too early to tell but in this season, Walcott has only shown occasional glimpses of Henry. His physique has frustratingly impeded his development into a world class player.
And his recent invisible performance against Man Utd did not help his cause. He is blessed with pace, technique and skill.
But if he doesn't turn out to be Henry one day, we know that it is because his performance is just not consistent enough.
He is certainly not a player that can yet break into Arsenal's first team on a regular basis yet. Not with Arshavin around anyway.
Outcome: Loan him out
Nicklas Bendtner
This lad with the pink boots better buck up. As if his on pitch performances aren't bad enough, he decided to go on a drunken revelry in the immediate aftermath of the rape by Man Utd.
In all honesty, I would want Bendtner to succeed. He is a huge potential and has the ability to be a fantastic target man. However, his ability to frustrate in front of goal is only second to Emmanuel "Are you Andy Cole in disguise" Adebayor.
He is another player whom Arsenal cannot depend on to turn the game around if he is on the pitch. However, he can still learn.
Arsenal still needs a reliable target man. He fits the bill to stay, but only just. A few more abysmal performances and Wenger should really reconsider this talent.
Outcome: Keep
Carlos Vela
The joke circulating around when he did not even make it to the bench against Man Utd was that he had Swine flu. Jokes aside, I have not seen enough of him this season to justify the pre-season hype about him.
If anyone plays Football Manager, you would have realized how good Vela is in the game. However, in reality, Vela has only shown occasional glimpses of his talent.
Nobody can forget that spectacular chip against Wigan in the League Cup. Yet sadly, that is the only thing I can remember about him this season.
He has a blessed left foot but again not a player that Arsenal can rely upon immediately to change the game. The saving grace is that he is a young upstart and there is definitely more from him to come.
Outcome: Keep
Lukas Fabianski
All Polish keepers seem to be plagued with the same disease. They just can't catch crosses. When a high ball is punt into the box, Fabianski inspires as much confidence as a 13 year old kid addressing a congregation on his first day in school.
11 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete