Gareth Bale v Theo Walcott: Did Tottenham or Arsenal Sign the Better Teen from Southampton?
This week two youngsters who came through the Southampton youth ranks performed superbly for their respective nations on international duty. Great things were expected of both players at St Mary’s prior to Theo Walcott making the move to the Emirates and Gareth Bale signed for Arsenal’s North London rivals Tottenham.
Walcott crowned his recent upturn in performances with a hat-trick in Croatia in just his 4th appearance for England. However, the youngster has begun to regularly appear in the Gunners line-up this season after overcoming a nagging shoulder injury that has hampered his fledgling career. Theo has now made 44 Premier League appearances (18 starts) in 3 full seasons for Arsenal and scored 4 goals. The 19-year-old was unfairly dubbed the new Thierry Henry and only towards the back end of last season did he begin to come into his own as a star in his own right. He may be flavour of the moment after his midweek heroics but Spurs have their own talented teen in Welsh international Bale who seems to improve with every match.
Bale is the younger of the two former Saints stars and was just as coveted by the Premier League big guns as Walcott was. Unfortunately the starlet has suffered a torrid time with injury which led to a mere 8 Premier League appearances in his first season at White Hart Lane. However, he has returned to the Spurs line-up this season playing in all 3 of the club’s matches taking his League appearances to 11 (2 goals). His versatility, athleticism and talented left foot have earmarked him as a definite star if he can maintain his fitness. He’s also a veteran compared to Walcott at international level with 12 caps to his name (2 goals) and was one of the stars of the Welsh side that narrowly lost in Russia though Bale won and failed to convert a penalty in that game.
Both are talented stars in their own right but we want to know who you rate as the brighter prospect? Let’s hear your views.
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Tags: Arsenal, Gareth Bale, Premier League, Southampton, Theo Walcott, Tottenham
September 12th, 2008 at 15:59
Walcott scored a hat trick but never usually impresses, it’s a one-off…Bale is real top drawer, quality delivery, beats players, can defend….he has the lot!
September 12th, 2008 at 16:01
As a Saints fan I have to say I think they’ve both been excellent and only saddens me that we never kept them but i think Bale really stands out consistently whilst Walcott has never really done much apart from cross in Milan and 3 the other night. Both will be top drawer though
September 12th, 2008 at 16:08
how can u forget his run agenst liverpool or sum of his other u21 performances….walcott might be a little inconsistent but he’s surely got more potential than bale!
September 12th, 2008 at 16:12
He has had 1 good game and done about 3 other memorable things…that’s nothing special..Bale stands out even for Wales
September 12th, 2008 at 16:14
Bale every day of the week! Walcott is a poor man’s Aaron lennon!
September 12th, 2008 at 16:16
no contest-threeo will light up the prem in the coming years-another th14-the spuddies are having sleepless nights already!!!
September 12th, 2008 at 16:23
i think robiniho is better
September 12th, 2008 at 16:29
as an fan i can even admit that walcott is very inconsistant. constantly dissapointing in the arsenal shirt. have not seen much of bale but he seems a solid player through many games for wales
September 12th, 2008 at 16:32
Bale is way better than Walcott on a consistent basis and anyone who says otherwise has obviously not watched them play much. COYS
September 12th, 2008 at 17:00
When ever i have seen bale play he has impressed me. The boy has every thing. I can see saf going after him in a season or two but spuds would probably want over 30 million for him. He would be a worthy successor for giggs. Walcott has only had 2 good games you cant compare the two.
September 12th, 2008 at 17:02
they are both very good, and no doubt Walcott will make more of an ‘impact’, i that you will see more goals come from him, but good strikers are extremely common nowadays and quality wingbacks are much rarer, so in Gareth Bale tottenham have the better prospect
September 12th, 2008 at 17:02
It weirdo tho
gareth able is a arsenal fan he even wnt 2 a couple of games last season at the emirates but then joined spuds
theo walcott is much better then bale quiker as well bell just has 2 rely on set pieces definsly hes poor and consistency wa concistency bale was injured for most of last season so wa da all about
theo also better coz ehs at abetta club arsenal shudd ave joined the gunnerz 2
September 12th, 2008 at 17:04
if walcott better then lennon whos disapred then hes better then bale
its theo
hatrick for country one of so wat u dont get many players a t his age starting for england
bale gd but not all dat
September 12th, 2008 at 17:14
theoo please try and write something we can understand!
“theo also better coz ehs at abetta club arsenal shudd ave joined the gunnerz 2″
so arsenal should have joined the gunners? bale has been by far the more consistant, with as you state at a club that isnt as good.. just a thought
September 12th, 2008 at 17:22
Walcott obviously gets all the media hype because he plays for England.But that probably suits Bale who I think over time will prove to be the better buy.
September 12th, 2008 at 17:23
This, for many people, is really about which team people here support judging by the way they are responding.
The football players and media all seem to be more excited about Theo’s potential than Bale’s. Even before his midweek heroics.
Bale seems to have more consistency over his few games he’s played but I’m notsure I’ve seen anything close to what could be referred to as world class. Still it’s consistency that Tottenham desperately need (and to win).
At their tender ages consistency is not really something fans should be demanding or judging them for. Glimpses of whatever brilliance they may possess should be how we appraise them.
In which case it’s Thoe all the way.
September 12th, 2008 at 17:53
Two good talents, capable with scoring goals and very young, bale is a set peice master whilst Walcott is a wing wizard, i am an arsenal fan so you’d think i’d say Walcott and your right but, I like Bale just as much. he is the right player in the wrong shirt.
They are both only getting their games for club and country but after watchin the croatia game…
nuff said
September 12th, 2008 at 17:58
Gareth is a brilliant player, consistent and has proven himself more than Theo.
But i believe Gareth has shown us most (if not all) of what he can do, where as Theo clearly has more to give, judging on the various flashes of his skills.
Gareth is kinda in a raw stage at the moment, so yes he can obviously improve on what he has done…but we will see nothing new, just way better. Theo on the other hand I believe has so much more to offer and wow the crowds with.
At the moment it may look like Spurs have the better player, but i think Arsenal have the better guy in the long run.
Theo is skill, pace and very soon clinical finishing. England and Arsenal are lucky to have such a talent.
To conclude both boys are class. Tottenham should be glad to have Gareth and Arsenal proud to have Theo. They are the future great generation in football and they are in good clubs to help them on their way.
Arsenal and Arsene Wenger are known for nurturing young talent and making them the best and Spurs play their youths as well…so best of luck.
September 12th, 2008 at 18:04
Walcott is Obviously the better player look at the records 44 games 4 goals That twice as many goals as the Midfield/defender Bale in only 4 times the number of appearances. Walcott is a world beater and a superstar and could score as many as ten goals by the time he’s made 110 appearances, Wow it’s all looking good at the Library. COYS
September 12th, 2008 at 18:34
“Greater consistency”???
I’m not knocking him, not at all; he seems a fine prospect, but the kid hasn’t played a dozen league games yet FFS, and any premiership player should stand out in the Wales squad!
Neither player has been around long enough to make such an assessment.
Based upon what we have seen thus far, the simple fact is that Walcott has proven that on his day he can be world class, whilst Bale has yet to do anything that will have got him noticed outside of WHL.
September 12th, 2008 at 19:12
Bale is a class act, he will be even better this season. As he gains experience he will become the best wing back in the league. Walcott is a good young player as well, but he will be stifled by Wengers insistence on playing a team full of foreigners.
September 12th, 2008 at 19:15
its all about theo.
bale is injury prone. theo has just taken beckams shirt no and henrys. bale will never get close to clichy.
wales get beaten by weak opposition thats why hes a vet. england have better players with big names so for him to get ahead of so many at his age he must be special. if bale was right footed he would nothing to right about; another stewart downing. the only thing consistant about bale is injuries. 4 prem games what a waste of money.
October 18th, 2008 at 16:12
Bale has never won a premier league match.
Theo is setting the world alight.
Messi rings Walcott for advice.
Hope this helps