2010 FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi Baffled By Walcott Omission

Good morning, it's a busy day of Arsenal news today so we'd best get started....

No, sorry, my mistake, it's not busy at all, in fact there's a fair bit of thumb-twiddling going on this morning. Really, I ought to be more grateful for the World Cup, because it's sheltered us from having too many days like this so far this summer, but now with just four games remaining that shelter is about to run out and we shall be thrust into the harsh football-less wilderness.

For about a week till pre-season starts anyway, and then we can start over-analysing what Arsenal's failure to knock thirty goals past Barnet means for their prospects of winning a trophy next season.

Pre-season friendlies are a curious beast, as soon as the season starts they become completely irrelevant, their results frequently proved to have no bearing on the season that follows them but during the summer we're all so grateful to have some form of football back that they're analysed from every possible angle, every player scrutinised.

If Marouane Chamakh plays in the Barnet game and looks like a bloke who hasn't played any football for a couple of months and is just getting back into pre-season, then it will be taken as a sign that Arsenal have wasted their money on his free transfer enhanced wages, and on the other hand if Rhema Obed of the reserves scores a hat trick there will those that clamour for him to start against Liverpool on the first day of the league season.

Personally I believe there is not a friendly fixture in the game, be it club or international, that matters in terms of it's result in the grand scheme of things. However, I'm more than willing to overlook that to have some Arsenal football to talk about.

Moving on to what little Arsenal news can be found,

Lionel Messi has been very complimentary about Theo Walcott, and calls his omission from the England World Cup squad a mistake. Messi says,

"I must say that at the time I thought it was a bad decision to leave Theo Walcott at home,"

"And I think that has been proved right. I can only speak from experience but he was one of the most dangerous players I have ever played against.

"Barcelona players are not scared easily but I can tell you that when we played Arsenal last season he truly worried us."

"When we were playing Arsenal at the Emirates we were so in control of the game at 2-0, with all respect Arsenal were not even in the game.

"Then Theo came on and changed the game. He pretty much single-handedly salvaged a draw against Barcelona that night."

"Even in the return leg our manager Pep Guardiola was telling us he was the player to watch out for."

"And the best players in the world like Xavi and Gerard Pique were telling us to watch out for him. The truth is that he really rattled him."

"If he could do that against Barcelona, think what he could have done against Germany and Algeria. Even if he didn't start, he would still have been very important for England."

"Along with Cesc Fabregas and Sergio Aguero he would have been the best impact player at the World Cup."

"Even at the top level, pace scares the world's best defenders. And, take it from me, he would scare any defender."

"When England brought on players, I don't think they were at the level to make any impact. But Walcott would have been and I still can't understand why he wasn't taken."

"He is a big-game player as well who rises to the occasion. He scored a hat-trick in Croatia, which nobody ever does and was the star against Barcelona."

I still haven't forgiven Messi for being such a diabolical little genius in the second leg of that Champions League tie last season, but he talks a lot of sense there. In all four of England's games at the World Cup Theo could have made a difference coming off the bench. If you can scare the living daylights out of Barcelona then you can do it to any team."

I think Theo, along with Jack Wilshere and Kieren Gibbs could be a big part of how the England get out of the rut they currently find themselves in. It's really nobody's loss but England's if that doesn't get recognised by the manager picking the squad.

The Daily Mail say that we've been offered Portugal goalkeeper Eduardo for a very reasonable £3.5 million. I'm never sure about buying players based exclusively on their performances at the World Cup, but he has looked quite solid, and I think solid is all we need.

I don't think we need to be looking for a spectacular goalkeeper at all, I just think we need to be looking for one that does everything they're supposed to - catches everything that should be caught, commands their area, stops all the shots that shouldn't be getting past them and so on.

The Mail says Arsenal already have a deal in place for Mark Schwarzer, it'd be difficult to see two goalkeepers coming in, and I think most Arsenal fans would be quite content with one decent signing in the goalkeeping department.

And quite honestly, nothing else seems to be happening. Better luck tomorrow I suppose. Talk to you then.