Product of an English system at the time that pushed more physical attributes over technique and technical ability.

Given Theo's limitations could it be said that his goal record of 1 in 4, whilst not making him a roaring success, certainly makes him a long way from a failure.

I think I can guarantee that he will be well cheered when he comes back to Arsenal with Everton

They signed Van Dyk first though. I really don't think there is anything holding us back when it comes to the financing of transfers.

To be fair, the January window is very tough to get great buys. It happens but obviously not nearly as good as the summer. However, knowing this and knowing that there was a decent chance Özil and/or Sanchez could go in January, we should have had replacements and other positions lined up.

This is what you get with leadership (Kroenke) who doesn't know and to some extent doesn't care.

Liverpool sold Sakho who was on big money and of course Coutinho, and look set to loose Emre Can on a bosman because they can't meet his wage demands. Its calculated at the end of the season. Arsenal are being naturally conservative by comparison in order to not have to shed salary in a hurry in June.

Why we are even considering him is beyond me.

He was really good for Dortmund, not only in his last year. I have my reservations about him based on how mediocre he's been for United, but at the same time Mourinho is to attacking players what Wenger is for defenders. He just doesn't have a clue how to get the best out of them most of the time.

As long as he's accompanied by other signings I'm fine with it, wouldn't be the first time a player benefitted from a change of scenery.

I agree with that, Haz, although I wouldn't want him as a straight swap for Sanchez if that is the only deal we do this window.

But then we will and should be shedding players in June, we’ll certainly get mertesacker and debuchy’s wages off the bill.

It all seems like a typical transfer window for us........vague links with players (not substantiated by the selling clubs) but nothing really that concrete. The usual murmers of lowball bids with little chance of success.

It's as if we are waiting for some wonderful opportunity to just magically transpire.

Per will be a good addition to the youth team staff.

We made a profit in player transfers last summer. Our commercial income increased modestly and our wages increase was only £4m due to failure to qualify for the CL. I can't see at all how the PL rules could be forcing us to buy before we sell. And as Gaz pointed out we were preparing a bid for Mbappe. I also believe that if it really came down to it, Arsenal could easily make a case to the PL seeing as we have the 2nd highest cash reserves in the division and it is all self-generated.

On what basis do you make this conclusion?

It entirely depends on the specifics of his role I'd assume? He clearly would be learning on the job, so you'd want him bedded in slowly and with as much quality support as possible. Naturally it would be better if this wasn't his first non-playing role, but in terms of character and the way his own career developed, the long term potential is there. Would I have been more comfortable if he'd been brought in alongside someone more experienced! Yes...hopefully this is where the chap from Reading comes in?

Still - a member of the 100 club despite playing no more than 25 games up front is not to be sniffed at. He leaves us with a sense of frustrated, appreciative minor disappointment.

but he was never as bad as some claimed.

Building on this, and mainly just to rile upp the anti Walcott crowd a bit, here are his league numbers leading up to what should’ve been his prime years (goals and assists only, as that’s pretty much all he’s been about as a footballer):

10/11 - 21 years old: 28 matches, 9 goals, 7 assists
11/12 - 22 years old: 35 matches, 8 goals, 8 assists
12/13 - 23 years old: 32 matches, 14 goals, 10 assists

Say what you want about his limitations as a player, those are excellent numbers for a young wide forward. Sadly, the following two seasons were ruined by injuries (he had two straight seasons where he didn’t reach 15 league appearances) and he never really got back to his best. 13/14 was the season we signed Özil as well, whose game is perfect for players like Walcott.

As I said, time for him to go, but he was never as bad as some claimed.

Ah Haz, I’m afraid he was. He really really was.

But at some point, doesn’t the numbers speak for themselves? I will never dispute the criticism leveled at Walcott for his work rate or defensive play, but at the same time I don’t see why it matters so much. Nobody is talking about how Sanchez is playing defensively. Or Hazard, or De Bruyne, or Salah. What you expect from them is to create chances and score goals, and a wide forward who scores 10-15 goals per year while contributing 5-10 assists as well (which for a while looked like numbers Walcott was capable of) has done his job as far as I’m concerned.

I think he's a case of delivering way less than he promised. I also think that you could see the player he could have been when he played on INSTINCT, but when he had to stop and think it all fell apart. Not sure what a coach can do about that.

On what basis do you make this conclusion?

It all seems like a typical transfer window for us........vague links with players (not substantiated by the selling clubs) but nothing really that concrete. The usual murmers of lowball bids with little chance of success.

It's as if we are waiting for some wonderful opportunity to just magically transpire.

Unless Per is completely useless with people, which doesn't seem the case, then surely any young player would benefit from the knowledge of a man with his experience? ..... but he has forgotten more about defending than most Premiership players ever knew. The more Germans in our set-up the better. They know the business.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11671/11211390/theo-walcott-joins-everton-from-arsenal-on-three-and-a-half-year-deal

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Goodbye and good luck Theo.

But at some point, doesn’t the numbers speak for themselves? I will never dispute the criticism leveled at Walcott for his work rate or defensive play, but at the same time I don’t see why it matters so much. Nobody is talking about how Sanchez is playing defensively. Or Hazard, or De Bruyne, or Salah. What you expect from them is to create chances and score goals, and a wide forward who scores 10-15 goals per year while contributing 5-10 assists as well (which for a while looked like numbers Walcott was capable of) has done his job as far as I’m concerned.

I used to get excited by the thought of players coming in. Now I couldn't care less who comes and goes player wise. It makes no odds anyway with that old goat as manager.

Wenger really is becoming a thoroughly unlikeable man.

Well I don't know anything about his coaching capabilities so the only way I can form a good/bad opinion is that he seems well respected by everyone at the club, he seems to 'get' what it means to play for Arsenal, that he is young enough and close enough to the game to be able to realise the way the modern player has to play and that we've let far too many potential former players slip through our fingers.

Obviously it is all just an opinion based on what little I know, but that's all I have to go on. For example I can imagine Per being a better coach than a Pires for example. Some players seem a better natural fit for a coaching role.

More than Keown , Adams , Bould ... I think Per would be a disastrous appointment blighted by Wenger association , he'd be genuflecting , busily tugging his forlock every time Arsene paid a visit . Promoting someone on the grounds of being a loyal servant seems ludicrous to me , what if he is useless he stuffs the whole youth programme . Why gamble ....... get someone from outside with proven credentials .

"Germans know their business "...well they managed to lose two world wars .

I might have been referring to football where they have done a little bit. And as far as Per goes I was thinking less 'loyal servant' and more a zillion German caps and a shed full of medals, including the World Cup.

Also, in case you don't realise you are now officially Wenger obsessed. Ask the other monomaniacs on this site for the club membership form. Its not too late to escape. In the meantime...
https://youtu.be/vSyhOPVjqDw