Walcott ready to learn
As a season of fluctuating fortunes and injury woes approaches a thrilling climax, Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has begun to reflect on what has been a steep leaning curve.
With Arsenal struggling for form over the first four months of the season, the England flier was bedevilled by a persistent injury to his shoulder.
No sooner had it been jarred by a tackle or collision than it popped out and would have to be slipped back into the socket by Walcott himself, causing untold agony.
The injury provided a fitting metaphor for Arsenal's autumn, when they were serene one moment and excruciating the next, apparently incapable of consistency.
But that is now little more than a bad memory.
The north Londoners have swaggered into the Champions League semifinals and have almost certainly rubber-stamped their participation in next season's competition thanks to an 18-game unbeaten league run.
Fittingly, Walcott's troublesome right shoulder has also settled.
The 20-year-old underwent surgery last November after suffering a serious dislocation while training with England and has reported no ill effects since returning in March.
It is sweet relief for Walcott, who had struggled to remember a time when he did not have to play through the pain barrier.
Even his first Arsenal goal, in the 2007 League Cup final against Chelsea, was tinged by agony.
"I had a massive strapping on that day and it still popped out a few times," he recalled.
"I hid it quite well, but the pain was excruciating.
"The right shoulder was always the worst because it would pop out and pop back in - you know, like Mel Gibson in 'Lethal Weapon'."
It was not simply Walcott's muscles and joints that were hardened during his convalescence.
He returned a tougher character - less easily deterred and, in response to Wenger's urgings, more eager to grasp responsibility with Arsenal.
The French manager reaped the rewards when he was forced to ask four players under the age of 22 - including Walcott - to take penalties in the cauldron of Roma's Stadio Olimpico, in the Champions League first knockout round. None missed.
"I'd never experienced a shoot-out before as a player," Walcott said. "I'm normally watching at home and want to see it go to penalties for the excitement.
"As a player, taking a penalty like that is hard. You walk up to take the kick and it's like walking in slow-motion: your throat goes dry, you can't hear anything.
"It was such a relief for me to see it go in in Rome, but it showed how much strength of character we've got because we came through with young players."
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