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Theo Walcott's goal for England shows his finishing potential

Theo Walcott of England looks on during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group E qualifying match between England and Estonia at Wembley

Theo Walcott’s calm finish against Estonia is just the latest reminder of his goalscoring capabilities, writes Adam Bate.

Natural goalscorer. It's an odd phrase. It appeals to our desire to believe that gifts are simply bestowed. There's no point practising. Some have it and some don't. But Theo Walcott seems to be a player determined to show that it doesn't quite work that way.

He is still trying to prove that to his club manager; to show these skills can be learned and honed. Others are waiting to be convinced. "We've all had doubts," ex-Arsenal and England striker Alan Smith told Sky Sports. "Arsene Wenger has had his doubts whether he can do it.

England 2-0 Estonia
England 2-0 Estonia

England made it nine wins in a row as they ease past Estonia at Wembley.

"It's taken him a long time to put him through the middle consistently. He's dipped in and out but the last five games he's played him through the middle for Arsenal. That's helped him learn the ropes of the job and that's only going to help him for England."

Walcott needed to improve. With his turn of speed, getting into positions has not been a problem. But the statistics show that Walcott missed clear-cut chances at a far greater rate than anyone else in the Premier League last season.

Graphic
Image: Walcott missed clear-cut chances more regularly than anyone last season

The temptation has been to regard him as England's speed freak. But Walcott has worked hard to add other aspects to his game and it must be a frustration that people still won't see it. The calmness of his finishing was evident in his opener at Wembley on Friday night.

It was that familiar pace that set him free and the quality of Ross Barkley's pass that found him. But it was the finish that really capped it off. A measured one into the corner that hinted at those hours spent in conversation with Thierry Henry at London Colney.

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"His confidence right now seems a lot higher than it ever has been," said Terry Butcher in the Sky Sports studio. And why wouldn't it be? Walcott has seven goals in his last nine appearances and three of those have come off the bench.

Theo Walcott opens the scoring for England on the stroke of half-time
Image: Walcott showed great composure to lift the ball over the goalkeeper

Not all of them have been from the optimum position for goals either. "We hope he does for us what I've seen him do for Arsenal," said Roy Hodgson before the game. "We want to tap into those qualities." But Walcott was still asked to play from the right wing.

He did his best. There was a crisply struck shot in the fourth minute and he looked busy - searching for one-twos and showing a bit more of that in-your-face attitude he insists he has picked up from Arsenal team-mate Alexis Sanchez.

Problem

But one attempt to cut inside brought an ugly shot with his left foot and the moment seemed to highlight the problem with playing Walcott on the right - his most effective finish is the one where he opens up and strokes the ball into the far corner.

That option presents itself more often when cutting in from the left channel, but he got his chance just before half-time and took it. As a result, Walcott has now scored three goals in European Qualifiers at a rate of one every 45 minutes.

Theo Walcott has scored a goal every 45 minutes he's played during England's European Qualifying campain
Image: Walcott boasts an impressive minutes-per-goal record in qualifying

That's better than Wayne Rooney and better than Harry Kane. What Walcott needs to do now is score consistently and present himself as a genuine alternative. "He's a great option to have if he scored 20 goals for Arsenal this season," added Smith.

"Roy Hodgson has got Harry Kane and Daniel Sturridge but Theo Walcott is perhaps something a bit different. He's got that outright pace and is somebody who is always on the shoulder. So there are good signs for club and for country."

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Walcott wants people to stop talking about signs. It's time to be seen as a man in his prime. Hodgson is hopeful but the caveat remains. "He has all the things an England player needs," said the England boss. "But he's had an awful lot of injuries, so it's been a stop-start career."

That hardly begins to cover it. Walcott is still only 26 years old but next summer's tournament in France will mark a decade since his shock inclusion in Sven Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad.

Much has happened since but Chris Waddle's infamous accusation that Walcott lacks a 'football brain' means that the onus seems to have long been on the articulate forward to show he has grown up. Given the chance, he looks in the mood to prove it.

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