THEO WALCOTT believes Southampton pal James Ward-Prowse is overtaking David Beckham as the Premier League’s free-kick king.
Saints captain Ward-Prowse has already found the net with three long-range free-kicks this term – two shy of Beckham’s record of five in a season.
Ward-Prowse is becoming the PL free-kick king, says WalcottCredit: AFP
Ward-Prowse is well on his way to breaking Beckham’s five free-kick goals in one season recordCredit: Reuters
Walcott, who played with Becks for England, said: “After every training session I see James taking free-kicks.
“I just sit there and remember watching Beckham all those years ago.
“I always thought I should have got involved with free-kicks but he was just too good.
“Now I see James and think, ‘You’re better.’
“It’s just the way he adjusts his run-up and is always match-prepared.
“It is brilliant to watch and it is showing.
“He is always such a threat, especially when you have got us players running at defenders and trying to win free-kicks.
“It is almost like a penalty for him these days, a good weapon to have.”
Walcott reckons Ward-Prowse may even be a better free-kick-taker than BeckhamCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Ward-Prowse’s set-pieces helped Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints climb into the top four ahead of a trip to Walcott’s struggling old club Arsenal tomorrow.
Walcott, 31, scored 100 goals for the Gunners and told talkSPORT: “It is a big game for me.
“I know a lot about the club and it will be very game but I’m not going to be playing the occasion.
“I went back there with Everton and ended up with a black eye after getting a ball in the face.
“We’re in a fantastic moment and it shows with the results we are getting.
“The manager has so many great ideas and the players feed into that.”
Man Utd get horror draw against La Liga high-flyers Real Sociedad as Arsenal face Benfica and Spurs take on Wolfsberger
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
