Theo Walcott - Player of the Week
Theo Walcott - Player of the Week
Is Theo Walcott back to his best?
Theo Walcott scored a first-half hat-trick as Arsenal finished their Premier League season in style. The 4-1 victory against West Brom means the Gunners finish the season in 3rd place and qualify automatically for the Champions League. Manchester Utd, who finished fourth, will have a play-off in August to qualify for the Champions League group stages. Walcott started his first match in more than two months against West Brom and looked to be back to his best. He scored his first, and best, goal after only 4 minutes. He collected the ball on the edge of the penalty box and hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner. His second arrived 10 minutes later, poking home after taking the ball past a West Brom defender. Jack Wilshire hit a spectacular goal, before Walcott completed his hat-trick after a pass from Santi Cazorla. After scoring, Walcott ran to the bench to celebrate with the Arsenal physio, Declan Lynch. Lynch has helped Walcott regain his fitness after nearly a year out through injury.
"Theo had a great game today. He was on fire and moved well." Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger.
Has Arsenal's season finished?
Arsenal have finished their Premier League campaign, but they still have one more match to play this season. On Saturday the 30th May, Arsenal play Aston Villa in the FA Cup final. Walcott will be looking for his first major honour as a player. Arsenal won the Cup last season, but Walcott didn't play in the final because of injury. He was injured earlier in the competition, when playing against Arsenal's North London rivals, Tottenham Hotspur. He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, which is one of the injuries footballers fear the most. An ACL can keep a player out of action for over a year and can often end a player's career. Thankfully, Walcott is on the road to recovery and appears not to have lost any of the speed that he is famous for.
“I've bounced back before and it's made me stronger.” Theo Walcott, talking about his career threatening injury.
Who's going to win the FA Cup?
The FA Cup is the oldest football competition in the world and was first played in 1871/72! Arsenal will start the FA Cup final as favourites, but there have been many surprises over the years and in a one-off game there is always the possibility of a shock. Only 2 years ago, Wigan Athletic created one of the biggest FA Cup final shocks, when they beat Manchester City, to win the Cup for the first ever time. It wasn't all happiness for Wigan, they were relegated from the Premier League just 3 days later, becoming the first team to be relegated and win the Cup in the same season. Aston Villa are now safe from relegation and they have won the FA Cup 7 times, but the last time was in 1957. Arsenal are the holders, they beat Hull City 3-2 in last year's final and have won the competition a record 11 times.
"To grab the match ball is a great achievement personally. But more importantly, the team is looking sharp going into next week’s final." Theo Walcott speaking after his hat-trick against West Brom.
What do we know about Theo Walcott?
Theo James Walcott was born on 16 April 1989 in London, but grew up in Berkshire, in the English countryside. Walcott is a product of Southampton's youth academy which he joined when he was 11 years old. The youth academy at Southampton has become one of the most famous in the UK and has produced many famous players. In addition to Walcott, other players that have played in Southampton's youth system include:
Theo Walcott (Arsenal) | Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) |
Calum Chambers (Arsenal) | Luke Shaw (Manchester United) |
Adam Lallana (Liverpool) | Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal) |
Walcott became Southampton's youngest-ever player when he made his debut aged 16 years and 143 days and scored 3 goals in his first 3 matches. In January 2006, he signed for Arsenal in a deal that was eventually worth £9.1 million. Since making his debut, Walcott has made over 30 appearances for the Gunners and scored 75 goals.
How many hat-tricks have been scored this season?
Walcott's hat-trick was the tenth and final hat-trick of the Premier League season. The first hat-trick of 2014/15 was scored by Chelsea's Diego Costa against Swansea City. The fastest hat-trick of 2014/15 was scored by Southampton's Sadio Mane against Aston Villa, this was also a new Premier League record. Yannick Bolasie of Crystal Palace was the only player to score a hat-trick for an away team, when he scored three against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. And Sergio Aguero was the only player to score more than three goals in a match, when he scored 4 against Spurs. Aguero is also the only player to score more than one hat-trick this season as he also scored three against QPR in May.
Which hat-tricks can you remember?
Click on talk and quiz and let us know what you think!
What did you understand?
Did you know......?
- Theo Walcott is a Liverpool fan!
- In 2006, Walcott became the youngest ever player to play for England. He was just 17 years and 75 days.
- Walcott was one of the sports stars that carried the Olympic flame at London 2012.
- Walcott is also a writer! He has published four books, three of them are football stories for children and aslo an auto-biography.
- Theo Walcott's wife had a small part in one of the Harry Potter films - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Quiz
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What do you think?
Arsenal have some fantastic attacking players; Walcott, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey.
Do Arsenal have the best attacking players in the Premier League? Can all these players play in the same team?
Do you think Arsenal will win the Premier League next season?
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Comments
12/11/2022
points
Sentence
• After recovery from alcohol addiction this actor looks to be back to his best.
Football idiom suggestion:
• Hi Jack, here, there is a common football idiom. I don't know what is called in English. "Topa (The ball) girmek (step in)" Literal meaning is to try to get or to grab the ball from opponent while tackling. This idiom is used especially in business life to remind responsilities to someone like manager who avoid to take authority. Another usage of this idiom is negative; "Bu topa girmem"(=I don't step in this ball) . It's said when there is risky ,dangerous or unpredicitable sitıuaton and speaker has intention of avoiding from it.
12/11/2022 17:04
Tottenham Hotspur
5558
Sentence
• After recovery from alcohol addiction this actor looks to be back to his best.
Football idiom suggestion:
• Hi Jack, here, there is a common football idiom. I don't know what is called in English. "Topa (The ball) girmek (step in)" Literal meaning is to try to get or to grab the ball from opponent while tackling. This idiom is used especially in business life to remind responsilities to someone like manager who avoid to take authority. Another usage of this idiom is negative; "Bu topa girmem"(=I don't step in this ball) . It's said when there is risky ,dangerous or unpredicitable sitıuaton and speaker has intention of avoiding from it.
15/11/2022
points
Hi Hsn
I'll have to have a think about these. I'm not sure that we have similar idoims in English - at least, not football idioms. I will keep thinking though...
Thanks
Jack
15/11/2022 11:33
Arsenal
22
Hi Hsn
I'll have to have a think about these. I'm not sure that we have similar idoims in English - at least, not football idioms. I will keep thinking though...
Thanks
Jack
30/06/2021
points
Arsenal had an impressive amount of good players, such as listed above. I think that good players can always play together and that is a manager's problem to arrange them at the pitch. But I don't think they were the best PL attacking players at that time.
30/06/2021 18:49
Arsenal
1512
Arsenal had an impressive amount of good players, such as listed above. I think that good players can always play together and that is a manager's problem to arrange them at the pitch. But I don't think they were the best PL attacking players at that time.
06/04/2021
points
Arsenal have amazing attacking players but the defense is awful and they lack confidence.
I don't think Arsenal will win the Premier League for awhile, If management continue following the same philosophy and approach of the past decade.
06/04/2021 13:32
Arsenal
438
Arsenal have amazing attacking players but the defense is awful and they lack confidence.
I don't think Arsenal will win the Premier League for awhile, If management continue following the same philosophy and approach of the past decade.
22/06/2020
points
Arsenal have some amazing attacking players but the defence is awful and they lack confidence.
That's why I don't think Arsenal will win the Premier League for awhile.
22/06/2020 16:53
Manchester United
6539
Arsenal have some amazing attacking players but the defence is awful and they lack confidence.
That's why I don't think Arsenal will win the Premier League for awhile.
19/07/2016
points
these player can play any where and do the best of the best
19/07/2016 15:19
Manchester City
1734
these player can play any where and do the best of the best
19/07/2016
points
yes I think that they will win
19/07/2016 15:17
Manchester City
1734
yes I think that they will win
05/06/2016
points
Arsenal are no where near winning the league until they make some major signings
05/06/2016 00:38
Manchester United
4779
Arsenal are no where near winning the league until they make some major signings
05/06/2016
points
No all these players can't play in the same team. Some will have to be substitutestopped.
05/06/2016 00:37
Manchester United
4779
No all these players can't play in the same team. Some will have to be substitutestopped.
05/06/2016
points
To some extent yes arsenal have one of the best attacking players in the league
05/06/2016 00:36
Manchester United
4779
To some extent yes arsenal have one of the best attacking players in the league
13/03/2016
points
Yes,they are Walcott,Alexis.
13/03/2016 19:24
Leicester City
1761
Yes,they are Walcott,Alexis.
12/01/2016
points
They are able to win the league this season.
12/01/2016 17:44
Liverpool
3705
They are able to win the league this season.
05/12/2015
points
Gunners have very attacking line-up, and sometimes it is not easy to combine all the players but it is the same idea for many years and the players can easily adapt on many formations. Flamini for example played out of UK for 5 years. Still, when he returned to Arsenal he didn't have to get use to the new methods. It remained the same, only the players were new:-)
05/12/2015 19:54
Arsenal
3557
Gunners have very attacking line-up, and sometimes it is not easy to combine all the players but it is the same idea for many years and the players can easily adapt on many formations. Flamini for example played out of UK for 5 years. Still, when he returned to Arsenal he didn't have to get use to the new methods. It remained the same, only the players were new:-)
07/12/2015
points
I hope their injury bench will be empty soon, and the Gunners will show their real power to head the way to the top of the Premier League.
07/12/2015 12:02
Arsenal
2453
I hope their injury bench will be empty soon, and the Gunners will show their real power to head the way to the top of the Premier League.
05/12/2015
points
I hope Arsenal can go far this season!
05/12/2015 19:49
Arsenal
3557
I hope Arsenal can go far this season!
30/11/2015
points
He is the best !!
30/11/2015 17:01
Manchester United
11
He is the best !!
23/11/2015
points
It's the right time for Arsenal to win. They have a full arsenal to win - a good mix of attacking players, an excellent goal-keeper and an intelligent manager. Just a little bit of luck they need. Co Gunners!
23/11/2015 11:35
Arsenal
2453
It's the right time for Arsenal to win. They have a full arsenal to win - a good mix of attacking players, an excellent goal-keeper and an intelligent manager. Just a little bit of luck they need. Co Gunners!
20/11/2015
points
It's fantastic to see him, I like his speed
20/11/2015 07:06
Arsenal
2320
It's fantastic to see him, I like his speed
03/11/2015
points
Arsenal could win the PL but they need to stop injuring themselves all the time! They have good players on the bench but something's really wrong with a strength and condition coach. It is too much..
03/11/2015 16:04
Arsenal
3557
Arsenal could win the PL but they need to stop injuring themselves all the time! They have good players on the bench but something's really wrong with a strength and condition coach. It is too much..
26/10/2015
points
Walcott is really speedy...
I like him...
26/10/2015 20:27
Arsenal
139
Walcott is really speedy...
I like him...
28/09/2015
points
They have the best attacking players and playing style but they have the worst manager in football history.
Arsenal won't win the epl this season , I think they will be at 5
28/09/2015 08:58
Chelsea
1814
They have the best attacking players and playing style but they have the worst manager in football history.
Arsenal won't win the epl this season , I think they will be at 5
27/08/2015
points
yes off course arsenal have good players to attack any team and score but arsenal can't win the premeir league as the team not attacking only but also can defend
27/08/2015 16:04
Manchester United
0
yes off course arsenal have good players to attack any team and score but arsenal can't win the premeir league as the team not attacking only but also can defend