Lookalikes are ten-a-penny – anyone can make Dirk Kuyt look like Sloth from the Goonies, or Peter Reid look like a monkey. It takes more to put two people together stylistically and functionally; players who remind you of one another, players who play like each other – players that could be clones of one another. Playalikes. Number five in our series is a first – Threealikes. Three players who play the same. Three!

As you can guess from the hybrid title, our threesome are all wingers. They are all young, all black, all quick, all suspect positionally, all lacking a part of their football brain, all have a dodgy end product. All are confidence players, all have represented England, all are right footed, all are diminutive… our three are Theo Walcott, Sean Wright-Phillips, and Aaron Lennon.

Let’s do a direct comparison:

Let’s look at the anomalies, now – Wright-Phillips is comfortably the oldest at 27, Theo Walcott is comfortably the tallest, at 5″9, and Lennon has the worst strike rate, with a goal every 12 matches as opposed to about one in eight for the other two.

It would be interesting to see their respective assist stats; but unfortunately that’s not easily discoverable. If Lennon does not have at least a comparable rate to the other two, he could satisfactorily be classed as the least productive. But then he is a slightly different player – he does hug the touchline, whereas the other two come infield a lot more – and both SWP and Walcott have been tried as strikers, something that has never (probably correctly!) been tried with Lennon.

Nevertheless, despite these differences, these three players are undeniably ‘playalikes’. Quick, and trrifying for defenders, each would be arguably world class if they had a better end product. Wright-Phillips is now destined to be a ‘nearly’ or a ‘never was’, at 27 he is not going to find the consistency required to be a top, top player (staggering that his transfer fees have been so high really). Walcott definitely still has time, and has shown flashes that he could become more Henry than Andy Cole. Lennon looks a lost cause already – he just doesn’t seem able to cross or shoot properly. There are signs recently that he could improve, but the jury is out, and very nearly decided on a ‘no’.

Walcott would be your choice if you could have any one of them, hence Capello’s preference for him on England’s right flank (not to mention his hat-trick on the biggest stage). But were Don Fabio to go for SWP, or Lennon, would anyone really notice…?

Watching Arsenal’s thoroughly deserved victory over Newcastle, when they stepped up a gear in the second half and totally outclassed the Geordies (our tip to be the ‘surprise’ relegation), the introduction of Abou Diaby in a forward role revealed an interesting aspect of Arsenal’s squad – the proliferation of strikers. Diaby can play off the front man (or even lead the line) and makes up a panoply of forwards. In decreasing degrees of tenuousness…

Cesc Fabregas

Fabregas is primarily a centre midfielder, dictating play, picking passes, and weighing in with goals (he is particularly partial to hot goalscoring streaks). Many think Fabregas will develop into a second striker playing off a main or target front man – you could certainly see him playing foil to a poacher or line-leader such as Torres for Spain – or Bendtner or Eduardo for the Arse.

Aaron Ramsey

Still only 18 but already a full Welsh international, Wenger signed Ramsey on the back of just 16 appearances for Cardiff. He can play anywhere across the midfield or as a support striker. It does seem Wenger fancies him more as the midfield engine room, but he is certainly good enough to play as a forward.

Abou Diaby

As mentioned, the big Frenchman is adept playing as a second striker; Wenger has used him in that role to great effect in Europe and occasionally domestically. It’s surprising that considering his wealth of options that his manager has even been forced to use him there – or is it in fact vindication of the faith he has in him?

Samir Nasri

Another midfielder by trade, Nasri – although left footed – plays on the right side for Arsenal. How England would love that luxury. Nasri is a goalscoring midfielder in the Robert Pires mould, and as such is another who can play off an out-and-out front man/striker.

Jack Wilshere

A well known name amongst Arsenal fans, Wilshere is one of their hottest prospects – high praise indeed considering the wealth of youthful promise at the Emirates. Wilshire has the number 19 shirt and has made one league appearance, becoming the youngest ever debutant for Arsenal. Wilshere also started in the fourth round of the Carling Cup against Wigan, setting up the opener – he was awarded the Man of the Match award but was too young to receive the champagne! Wenger has compared him to Fabregas – a creative midfielder who (again!) can operate as a second striker.

Theo Walcott

Up to now Walcott has primarily been a flying winger, making the England berth his own and scoring THAT hat-trick before his shoulder injury. However, there is talk of Walcott going down the path of Henry – moving infield and using his blistering pace to penetrate defences centrally. He is inferior to Henry in technical ability, but his speed would terrify centre-backs, and he is a very useful weapon to be able to introduce upfront even if he doesn’t start there.

Andrei Arshavin

Arshavin is a supremely gifted and supremely fluid member of the forward line. He has already played both left and right side for Arsenal, as well as through the middle as a standard centre-mid, off the forward, and as a striker. Arshavin is a creative force, but also weighs in with his fair share of goals – he averaged one in four for Zenit and averages one in three for Russia.

Jay Simpson

Currently on loan to West Bromwich Albion, Simpson is a promising forward who can also operate in midfield. Incredibly, he featured in an under 18s game at just 13 years of age. Simpson spent last season on loan at Millwall and won the PFA Player of the Year award at only 19. One for the future, Simpson holds goalscoring records at many youth levels. He scored twice against Wigan on his full debut, too!

Robin Van Persie

Arguably Arsenal’s most influential player this season, RVP already has nine goals and ten assists. Wenger: “He can play on the left side of midfield, as a creative player behind the main strikers or as a target man.” and so it has proved, with Van Persie occupying each of those positions as well as right midfield on occasion. He has scored 40 goals in 115 matches and remains a potent source of goals. However, with Arsenal’s rich array of strikers, he may find himself increasingly played wide.

Carlos Vela

Vela is only 20 but already has 13 caps for Mexico, and scored a hat-trick on his full debut. Hugely promising, Wenger sees him in the Eduardo mould, a quality line-leading goal poacher. Arsenal have lacked on of those for many years (remember Francis Jeffers?) and now two come along at once…

Emmanuel Adebayor

The forgotten man at Arsenal, Adebayor has been out injured for a number of weeks. Courted by several top sides last season, considering Arsenal’s striking riches it would be no surprise if this was his last at the Emirates. Tall and gangly but deceptively skilful, he is like a quick version of Kanu who can also head the ball. Despite the backup, 44 goals in 110 games for Arsenal (not to mention 34 in 38 for Togo) show he will be missed.

Eduardo

Just back from that sickening Martin Taylor challenge, Eduardo is your definitive ‘fox in the box’. A master finisher, Eduardo is classy as they come in front of goal, as his goals on his comeback showed. An out and out striker, a predator, he is the kind of player who would – and will – score goals for anyone.

Nicklas Bendtner

If it’s possible to be more of an out and out striker than Eduardo, Bendnter is it – big and strong, he leads the line well, and his excellent movement gets him into fantastic goal-scoring positions. He just needs to learn how to finish… He is a favourite of Wengers, although many more performances like the one against Blackburn, where he missed five clear cut chances, may see him slip down the pecking order.

So there we are – a substantial ‘Arsenal’ of striking options. There are also a couple of other youth players not too far off the first team (although in a long queue), most notably Jay Emmanuel-Thomas; and there is also the perma-crocked Tomas Rosicky-note who can play off a striker and has done so for the Czech Republic.

Even if you take out the young and the tenuous, leaving only out-and-out indisputable forwards (albeit a couple who play in midfield sometimes) you still have Walcott, Arshavin, Vela, Van Persie, Adebayor, Eduardo and Bendtner – an embarrassment of riches. You wouldn’t bet against Adebayor leaving in the summer…

This does beg the question, why are Arsenal struggling? Arshavin is new, admittedly, and Eduardo just back from injury with Adebayor taking his place on the treatment table; but with the volume and quality of back up Arsenal should not have gone on a club record run of 0-0 draws.

The absence of Fabregas is the real key here – however good your strikers are, you need chances for them, and without his creative spark the Gunners have really struggled. Cesc is now close to a return, and with him supplying in the ammo – in mouth-watering tandem with Arshavin – Arsenal could be back to their brilliant best. Fans will be begging Wenger to sign a a Centre Back and a ball-winning Centre Midfielder to complement the attacking riches; perhaps with the Adebayor money…?

Next year could be the Arsenal renaissance.

So Chris Hoy is the 2008 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. So many questions – not least, is cycling even a proper sport?

With four cyclists and no footballers in the Top 10 candidates, we felt it entirely fitting to launch the inaugural FOOTBALLSUP Football Personality of the Year awards.

We’ve tried to remain relatively true to the rules of the actual event, but minus the law of the bleedin’ obvious. So here goes – have we got it as wrong as the British public? Let us know.

Young Personality of the Year:

Jack Wilshere: the rules state the winner must be under 17 years of age, making this Arsenal prodigy a shoo-in in our book. This year has seen 16-year-old Wilshere become Arsenal’s youngest ever player in both the Premiership and Champions League. But it is in the Carling Cup that Wilshere has really shown his massive potential.

In November, he turned in a virtuoso MOM display in the 3-0 win over a bemused Wigan side, showing remarkable poise and awareness, not to mention great end product – he produced the slide rule from his school satchel to put in Jay Simpson for a sumptuous first on the night.

Expect Arsene Wenger to wean this boy into the Arsenal first team over the next two years – England honours beckon before he can legally drink in a pub.

Overseas Personality of the Year:

Xavi: In the year that they finally ended their big tournament hoodoo, it has to be a Spaniard. There are perhaps more obvious choices, such as brilliant keeper Iker Casillas, or the electric Fernando Torres, but at the heart of everything good about Spain, and indeed Barcelona, is playmaker Xavi.

To watch Xavi orchestrate a game from the centre of the park is a joy to behold for the football purist. Constantly probing and directing, he is blessed with outstanding vision, balance and awareness of his surroundings. In Euro 2008, he scored the opener in Spain’s semi final win over surprise-package Russia, and in the final itself, it was Xavi’s weighted through-ball that allowed Torres to set Spain on their way to victory over the Germans.

If Barcelona are to end the English dominance of the Champions League in 2009, Lionel Messi is bound to get the plaudits. But you can bet your bottom dollar that Xavi’s contribution will have been integral to any success Barca enjoy.

Team of the Year:

Hull City: The Tigers’ rise to the top tier of English football has been the stuff of fairytales. An impressive run up the leagues in the 2000s culminated with the talismanic Dean Windass spanking in a magnificent volley at Wembley in May to propel Hull to the dizzy heights of the Premiership.

An immediate return to the reality of the Championship was roundly predicted – yet at the time of writing, Hull City comfortably sit 6th in the league. They have been to Anfield and the Emirates and come away with four points, and even had the temerity to score three at Old Trafford, albeit in a valiant 4-3 defeat.

Phil Brown has added shrewdly to a squad of players some of whom – such as skipper Ian Ashbee – have been there every step of the way from League Two. The fairytale looks set to continue for the time being.

Coach of the Year:

Martin O’Neill: OK, Fergie won the Premiership and CL but that would be too easy. In 2008, O’Neill has nurtured a group of young English players and moulded Villa into a genuine threat to the so-called ‘Big Four’.

There aren’t too many more exciting players at the moment than the rapid Gabby Agbonlahor or the classy Ashley Young. But O’Neill has surrounded his young tyros with an experienced spine containing the likes of Freidel, Laursen and Carew.

The results have been impressive, and expect the success to continue. Champions League qualification or an FA Cup win are distinct possibilities in 2009 under the Northern Irishman’s astute direction.

NOTE: As excellent as O’Neill’s work has been this year, nothing can compare to his acerbic deconstruction of Robbie Williams’ pop career on the BBC at World Cup 1998. Classic stuff:

Football Personality of the Year:

Theo Walcott: When Sven-Goran Eriksson picked a 17-year-old Walcott in his 2006 World Cup Squad, it looked like the Swede’s strangest decision since Nancy Dell’Olio. Just two years on, the only baffling thing is that he didn’t actually play the prodigiously talented Arsenal player in the tournament itself.

That experience thrust Walcott into the public eye, and this year he has lived up to the hype in a big way. Arsene Wenger could not resist holding back his starlet any longer, launching him into first team action with great results, fittingly wearing Thierry Henry’s eponymous number 14 shirt.

His sparkling pace and creativity clearly caught the attention of new England supremo Fabio Capello, who picked him for the vital World Cup qualifier away to Croatia. What followed was stunning, Walcott opening his international account with a hat trick, most notable for clinical finishing with the coolness of a sniper.

Injury has disrupted the end of his year, but this young man has the temperament and talent to be a world-class performer for the next ten years and beyond.

Theo Walcott has suffered a dislocated shoulder while training with England, and could be out for as long as a month. Read the full article here – and as it says, although bad news for England after the withdrawals detailed a few posts earlier, its worse for Arsene Wenger and Arsenal.

But as one door shuts another opens – and someone else – perhaps Stuart Downing, hopefully Ashley Young – will get a chance to stake a claim.

10 – Theo Walcott’s age when he started playing football. He made his Southampton debut five years later.

(Taken from the Times’ excellent ‘Ahead of the Game’ email, which arrives at around 16.00 every day)

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