Theo Walcott can become world class for Arsenal as main striker

At the end of the 1990s, football commentators coined the saying “just like watching Brazil”. Well, when Arsenal set-up like they did against the Baggies and play like they did, it’s “just like watching Barcelona”. Arguably, the club version of a modern-day Brazil.

Forget Henry, Walcott can become as effective for Arsenal as Messi is for Barca. His low centre of gravity, close ball control, and developed sense of unpredictability can win the Gunners football games, and more importantly, trophies for years to come.

Wenger always maintained his great faith in what was a very young core of the team throughout the last decade, and it is now starting to pay dividends. It should also be noted that Wilshere has had a torrid time with injuries as well.

He highlighted against the West Midlands club though, just how good he is. His finish was simply spectacular, as he drove an instinctive half-volley from the edge of the area in off the underside of the crossbar.

And then there is Ramsey at 24 years of age. Another player, who like Walcott (26) joined when he was a teenager, and has since shown he can also become one of the best. In the second half, he was mercurial, hitting the post with a divine, imaginative effort, before agonizingly seeing his delicate curling dink tipped onto the post by Boaz Myhill, who was at full stretch.

Combine this long-nurtured talent with the natural world class ability that Ozil and Sanchez have in attacking roles, with Walcott at the top of his game leading the line, and the potential is frightening.

This season, Arsenal have once again reached the FA Cup final, and are odds-on at 3/10 with Coral to retain it, and also achieved their highest finish in the Premier League, since Henry and co won it in 2004 going the Premier League season unbeaten.

Against Aston Villa at Wembley, Walcott can do exactly what he did against the Baggies. On his day, as he showed, he is unplayable, and with his speed and trickery, Tim Sherwood’s defence will have to guard against giving a penalty or threatening free-kick away.

Although, there is no doubt that Giroud is also a quality forward, he isn’t world class, his instinct isn’t quite there, though his range of finishing has improved over the last couple of seasons.

With a full pre-season behind Walcott, though, he can go from strength to strength. He is a confidence player, and once that comes, he can terrorise defences next term and lead a very credible Arsenal assault on the Premier League, with the north London outfit priced at 5/1 to win the title.