Gilberto: Walcott must be patient
April 20, 2008
Arsenal veteran Gilberto believes Theo Walcott can reach the very top, but urged the England youngster to be “very calm” and bide his time.
Walcott produced another impressive display when he was handed a rare start by manager Arsene Wenger in the 2-0 victory over Reading yesterday, which kept alive the Gunners’ hopes of finishing runners-up in the Barclays Premier League.
The 19-year-old former Southampton trainee has been keen to show what he can do – even going as far as confronting Wenger about forcing his way into the starting XI on a regular basis.
Gilberto, 31, was part of Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ side which won the club’s last championship title in 2003/2004 – and the Brazil World Cup winner knows all about the importance of working your way up to becoming a regular performer at the highest level.
“Apart from being a great player, Theo is a very nice guy – but I think people need to give him time,” said Gilberto.
“I read some things and people try to put pressure on him and between him and the manager – but if they let him do his job freely then he can be one of the best players in England.
“Sometimes people forget that he is very young. Theo needs to progress in the way he plays.”
Gilberto declared: “Theo will do it, but if I was him then I would be very calm because he’s playing for a big club, he’s doing very well, he’s got plenty of time to learn things and improve himself.
“The pace he has got and his ability he’s got for such a young guy, it’s amazing – but he must concentrate on his job, do it without any pressure because I know he wants to play games.
“He has got time on his side to develop a bit more.
“Theo has got the talent and the more he works – as I’ve seen him work on the training ground – the better he will become.
“He will be prepared and more ready to take his chance when he is in the starting XI.”