Walcott To Inherit Henry's No. 14 Shirt <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Arsenal earlier released details of their squad numbers for 2008-09, and Walcott was allocated the number 32 jersey he has woen for the last two seasons. But in a change announced on the club's offivial website, Arsenal have confirmed that from the start of the 2008-09 season, Walcott will be wearing 14 jersey. It is an iconic shirt at Arsenal because 14 was the number worn by the Gunners' all-time leading goalscorer, Thierry Henry, who left the club a year ago for Barcelona. The change of shirt also symbolises Walcott's gravitation from the fringes of the Arsenal squad into the heart of it. The England international and former Southampton star, still only 19, became steadily more influential in games last season, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said he believes Walcott is ready to make a big impact for the Gunners from the start of the new campaign. He scored his first Premier League and Champions League goals for the clubduring 2007-08, and earned a recall to the senior England squad for the recent friendly fixture against Trinidad and Tobago. The change of shirt for Walcott is the only one following the original announcement on squad numbers. New signing Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff has been handed the No. 16 shirt, while Mexican striker Carlos Vela takes the No. 12.</div>
Too big of a shirt number for him, but it could also motivate him to play better, wearing that number means alot to us gunners, I hope he honors it!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Art_gunner4life @ Jun 28 2008, 04:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Too big of a shirt number for him, but it could also motivate him to play better, wearing that number means alot to us gunners, I hope he honors it!</div> I don't agree. Right now is the perfect time for him to take up the role as "Savior". I believe he's old, and mature enough now to handle this role. It was said during last season that he went into Wenger's office multiple times to ask when he will be on the 1st team for Arsenal in the EPL. Now is his time, and he has been waiting for 4 years for this moment. When a player has so much passion, and confidence (his skill helps too) great things can happen. It's a forumla for guaranteed success. Lots of English people (especially non-Arsenal fans) have said that Wenger has ruined Walcott's career, and that Walcott was over-rated, and will lead England at all. Well, now he has a chance to prove everyone wrong, and we have already seen huge sparks of brilliance, acceleration, and pure magic. He is on the team with arguably one of the best wingers in the EPL (Hleb (if he stays at least!)), one of the best playmakers (Fabregas), and also trained with Henry in his earlier years - It's a bit of shame that Henry couldn't of been there longer to train him into a mastermind. Nonetheless, this is his time to show us if he is up for it... If he can play like Wenger has said he can - Consistently. That was my rant/thought I guess. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ Jun 28 2008, 04:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think he will. He's a great kid and a great player. The future of England no doubt.</div> Lets hope so.
