Theo Walcott‘s performance in Arsenal‘s 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon has provoked a strong reaction on social media.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger opted to start the England international in the centre-forward role ahead of Olivier Giroud and it’s safe to say that the Frenchman made the incorrect call when looking back at the game at St James’ Park.
Walcott should have broken the deadlock early in the game after combining brilliantly with Hector Bellerin, but the forward hit his shot straight Magpies keeper Tim Krul when the better option would have been to have lifted the ball over the Dutchman.
The 26-year-old, who signed a new deal with the Emirates Stadium outfit earlier in the summer, then spurned an even better chance a few minutes later as Krul spilled an Alexis Sanchez effort into his path, but he somehow blasted the rebound over the bar.
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Walcott was substituted after 70 minutes and he may not want to look at Twitter anytime soon:
Walcott is so much better at right-wing because he acts as the second striker. Still capable of scoring from out-wide. He’s not a #9.
— JamesGooner88 (@JamesGooner88) August 29, 2015
Walcott needs to go back on the wing about play me as striker
— * (@estrella_afc) August 29, 2015
Walcott can’t do it on his own upfront. Play him on the wings and buy a striker, even if he is not WC.
— Osman (@OsmanZtheGooner) August 29, 2015
Walcott must be performing like a prime Thierry in training, because I’ve never see anything from him that suggests he can be a lone CF.
— Raf (@TheFalseNein) August 29, 2015
Giving Walcott that money was a massive mistake
— MC (@mediocentroEN) August 29, 2015
Walcott really not a good option as central striker.
— arseblog (@arseblog) August 29, 2015
Is Theo Walcott a striker? pic.twitter.com/NNuGbSbQYv
— Soccer St. (@SoccerSt_) August 29, 2015
Walcott is not a centre forward, no matter how much he claims otherwise.
— The Gooner Zone (@TheGoonerZone) August 29, 2015