GOB YOB ROCKS THEO

Theo Walcott victim of cowardly attack at Fratton Park

SHOCKED - Theo Walcott

By CHRIS HATHERALL and ANDY DUNN, 09/05/2009

THEO WALCOTT was the victim of a cowardly attack from a sick fan who SPAT in his water bottle.

The Arsenal star - a former Southampton player - suffered a torrent of abuse from the Fratton Park hate-mob last Saturday during the Gunners' 3-0 triumph over Portsmouth.

But he was stunned when he discovered a vile yob had gobbed in his drink.

Walcott recalled: "I drank from my water bottle just before the start of the first half before throwing it to the side of the pitch.

"I was told afterwards that my dad had to phone Paul Irwin, our player liaison officer, to get a message to the bench because someone took my bottle, unscrewed it and spat in it. That's just not appropriate, not nice to see."

Given the recent scares over swine flu, Arsenal's bench were naturally concerned - but couldn't get a message to the player.

Walcott added: "The people on our bench were praying I didn't go over to drink it. I could have when there was a break in play for an injury but, fortunately, I didn't."

A Portsmouth spokesman confirmed they are aware of the incident but said: "We cannot invesitage further until someone makes an official complaint."

Walcott, 20, is also at the centre of club-v-country row between boss Arsene Wenger and England coach Fabio Capello. Wenger insists he doesn't want Walcott to play in this summer's European Under-21 Championship to save him from burn-out.

And the Frenchman is planning showdown talks with Capello in a bid to overrule U-21 coach Stuart Pearce's insistence that Walcott takes part in the Sweden tournament.

Wenger is adamant Walcott should be resting and declared: "I will speak with Fabio about it. We would prefer he is not picked for Sweden."

Walcott - who agreed a new long-term deal at The Emirates on Friday - is likely to be included in Capello's squad for the World Cup qualifying double-header against Kazakhstan and Andorra next month.

Wenger said: "We ask that the guy plays only for one team."

Your comments

This article has 13 comments

haha all the pompey fans,
if it did happen why?
thats just an abomination
and if it didnt then stop with the 'cheat'claims
i bet peter crouch wouldnt have said no pen if he had been given one unfairly

By me.. Posted May 12 2009 at 12:00 AM.

Blue Monkey - you're entitled to your opinion. And I'm entitled to mine.

1. Pearce's selections have NOTHING, but NOTHING to do with drinking bottles and spit. Please grow up!
2. I would be the first to say that Walcott should have a summer off if he'd played a full season and if England had qualified for 2008. Neither occurred. He has had two summers off and has no international tournament experience. He might be better prepared for 2010 if he played in U21s in 2009.
3. Agbonlahor has far more justifications to be pulled out as he has played himself into the ground in Villa's much smaller squad. I keep stats on Arsenal and Walcott has started 27 games this season. Hardly 'burn out' is it?
4. Wenger inherited a largely English side in 1996 and has hardly brought any players through since. Sol Campbell was bought, in his prime and Ashley Cole came through the ranks. Walcott is now emerging after Wenger paid top, top money for him. Who else in 12 years? And how many French stars, eh? Answer me please...........
5. Now it may well be that Wenger will bring through Wilshere, Gibbs, Simpson, Freeman in the next three or four years. I will be the first to cheer if he does.
6. But until he does, and until he stops his continual purchase of young French players paid for by English season ticket holders, don't tell me that he's not sailing close to the wind. Because he is.

And Benitez is being to look like he's doing likewise at Liverpool...............

By Rhys Jaggar.. Posted May 11 2009 at 11:10 AM.

Grow up gooners! I can't believe some of you are actually falling for this story. It happens every time an ex scummer comes down here and gets a good honest scummering. Off they go, running to the press, telling tales. And...Walcot needs a bit press coverage now.

By Blue_Monkey.. Posted May 10 2009 at 4:07 PM.

It makes me wonder how a fan could get access to unscrew a players bottle, spit in it, then tighten the top again & Pompey not investigate it as a matter of course, unless it was one of their own staff, hmmmm.

Pompey deal with it if you know about it, if there is any shred of decency in the club.

Rhys Jagga, it is painfully clear who the SCUM is here & your are proving the point successfully without realising it.

Which team is going to be happy with their player being used for U21 when he is also in the seniors?

This increases the chances of injury to the player without justification and is a clear abuse of the system.

Pearce should get lost unless Fabio rules Theo out of his plans. Or better still send Pearce down to Portsmouth for a drink of water.......

By streetpuppy.. Posted May 10 2009 at 1:37 PM.

I think that Wenger must be shown the door over Walcott not playing in the U21s.

Walcott had his summer break between November and March - a shoulder injury. He's not played anything like a full season. He is NOT burned out. And Wenger must be called a liar if he implies he is.

Wenger is always like this: puts up his 17 year old when he wasn't ready, now pulling him out citing 'burn out'. He's started well under 30 games this season. Hardly burn-out city, is it?

M. Wenger is French. Whose first priority in these situations is undermining England to favour France.

Never forget that.

By Rhys Jaggar.. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:01 PM.

Walcott played for the scum, what do you expect? if "swine flu" is so probable, should they be sharing bottles and leaving them around the pitch?!
'izzy', how can we possibly get relegated in the next week? do your homework idiot.
'steve nash', low class fans?? we're the most loyal and passionate around regardless of our wealth/background, unlike fair-weather rich boy gooners like you.
"sue" it was 5-1 and how is this a new low??

DONT FORGET YOUR CHEATING SCUM PIRES. give me his bottle, its my turn.

By muzza.. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:01 PM.

Theo Wolalcott walked out of the tunnel with his water bottle and was drinking it as he crossed the pitch, He then put the bottle to side of the pitch by the side line where no fan can reace it. The same bottle he came out of the changing room so how could any pompey fan get it. Sound's like Theo or his dad trying to cause truble because pompey fans call him a scummer. Most pompey fans perfer Asenal to any of the top 4 so lets not make this a hate campain.

By ANDY T... Posted May 10 2009 at 12:00 PM.

Brilliant. Just brilliant.

By pete hall.. Posted May 10 2009 at 9:20 AM.

It is more than likely the fact that Theo used to be a Southampton player.
Still it was disgraceful behaviour...lets hope they find the culprit through CCTV and ban them for life. Pompey if you are aware of the incident then act on it...why should someone have to make an official complaint?

By Sue.. Posted May 10 2009 at 8:59 AM.

I remember all Gooners applauding the Pompey fans a couple of years ago when they stayed until the end of a game when Arsenal comprehensively outplayed them, won 4-0 (I think). The fans kept singing to the very end, and gave Henry et al a standing ovation at the final whistle, and everyone then was talking about what an amazing fanbase Pompey had.

But this is a new low..

By Steve Nash.. Posted May 10 2009 at 2:06 AM.

That is just disgrace! How low can these fans get!! They even booed our Arshavin for being honest that it was not a penalty... Total low class fans!

By izzy.. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:57 AM.

The stunt is typical Portsmouth fan behaviour I'm afraid. Let's hope they get relegated in the next week/

By Keith Price.. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:51 AM.

thats just horrible...what a scum bag that 'fan' is

By chris.. Posted May 10 2009 at 12:12 AM.

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