Theo wouldn't have got near 200 games if he'd played for United

By Brian Reade

Published 20:57 06/01/12

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If Theo Walcott plays against Leeds on Monday it will be his 200th game for Arsenal. Which is quite an astonishing statistic for a player widely excused when he drifts into the periphery of a game as "still learning."

There's no way you can keep referring to someone as "developing" when they went to a World Cup six years ago. It's surely no coincidence that in those six years his club have won nothing.

The fact that Walcott has made 200 appearances for Arsenal, whereas it would be nearer 50 had he played for Manchester United, goes a long way to explaining why.

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Here's a question: Which reserve is almost certain to be on the England plane to Poland this summer? Answer: Fulham keeper David Stockdale.

After his two outstanding performances against Chelsea and Arsenal all he needs to do now is stay fit (even when Mark Schwarzer returns) to make the cut.

Well, would you put Robert Green or Scott Carson ahead of him?

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I loved Doug Ellis's response to hearing he'd been knighted in the New Year's Honours: "I'm so humble I can't believe it."

Humble indeed.

In fact the man is so humble that had he still been chairman of Aston Villa he'd have had an army of contractors out on New Year's Eve, inserting the word "Sir" in the Doug Ellis Stand, the Doug Ellis Suite, the Doug Ellis boardroom and the Doug Ellis toilets.

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What a fabulous impact Martin O'Neill is having at Sunderland. It's similar in many ways to Kenny Dalglish's at Anfield and Roy Hodgson's at West Brom a year ago.

Right now the players are (as they say) running through walls for him and the fans are behind them every step. But it is still the squad Steve Bruce left behind.

The test will come when they hit a wall that stops them in their tracks.

If the honeymoon is to be kept going O'Neill needs to buy this January. Steven Pienaar, for £4million, wouldn't be a bad start.

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