Arsenal’s Theo Walcott was played out of position by England against Italy.
Arsenal attacker Theo Walcott was played in an unusual role as England took on Italy last night.
The 26-year-old was picked at the tip of a midfield diamond, constrained to the centre, unable to effect the game out wide in his normal manner.
Predictably it did not work out, with Walcott ineffective and withdrawn early in the second half with England 1-0 down.
Theo Walcott: Had just 14 touches of the ball in his 54 minutes on the pitch in #ITAvENG, incl. 2 from kick offs pic.twitter.com/BX8JEGWN7u
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 31, 2015
Walcott could really have done with being picked in his normal role against the Italians, who did not give him space to run with the ball, and it was little surprise when he was substituted.
While he completed 100 per cent of his passes, he only attempted seven, and his one shot on goal landed off target.
Walcott is in need to regular action to find form to take back to his club, where he is not currently in manager Arsene Wenger’s first choice XI.
It was not a good performance from the forward, but the reaction to his performance was mixed in terms of who to blame. Most laid it at manager Roy Hodgson’s door while others felt Walcott simply did not deserve his place in the XI.
Walcott is so overrated
— ㅤ (@nycortez_) March 31, 2015
Someone please tell me why Walcott is playing? #ENGVITA
— Taylor (@taylor_broady) March 31, 2015
And Walcott as well play him on in a formation that suits him or don’t play him!
— Georgie Lewis (@georgielewis_1) March 31, 2015
Can’t believe I’m sat wishing andros townsend would come get subbed on for walcott. Wtf has happened to me.
— Öxford Gooner (@OxonGooner) March 31, 2015
Playing Walcott in the hole is like riding a motorbike in your hallway of ya house,he has no room to open his legs an he had no space!#width
— Wayne Power (@wjnpower) March 31, 2015
Walcott playing the tip of the diamond at international level
— craig whitfield (@Cwhit89) March 31, 2015
If Theo Walcott is asked to play centre forward and looks like a headless chicken, don’t have a go at him. Blame Woy #ITAvENG
— Adam Catterall (@AdamCatterall) March 31, 2015
This might be Theo Walcott last international for a while unless he drastically improves,
— bA (@bamskeke) March 31, 2015
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