DM Vela played loads for Arsenal and only ever did well in the Carling Cup. When ever he was given a first team chance in the prem he was severely disappointing, I really wanted him to do well because I saw glimpses of brilliance from him but he just wasn't good enough.
First that is entirely rubbish, second it wasn't glimpses he was always good, third he was from what I recall never a single time played upfront for Arsenal in his actual position but played wide which was a newer position to him.
A break down just for you.
In 08/09 he started 2 league games(after in the previous season at Osasuna starting 21 + 12 sub appearances), a sub in 12 more, with one goal.
In the CC he had 3 starts, 4 goals, 2 assists. FA cup 3 starts, 1 goal, 1 assist. UCL 2 starts. Lets break that down a touch further.
He started the season(after a fantastic preseason) an unused sub, then he got 30 mins in a game already over (3-0 up before he came on). Three weeks later he got 10 mins in the CL, several days later an unused sub. he then started in the CC and got 3 goals and an assist in one epic game. That was followed by 15 minutes against Hull, 20 against Porto, 5 against Sunderland, not used at everton, 5 mins against Fenebache, unused against Spurs, 20 mins against Stoke, 30 entire minutes against fenebache again...... etc, etc.
He never got a run of games, he rarely got more than 15 mins as a sub and he got unused for weeks at a time between his chances.
http://espnfc.com/player/_/id/76098/carlos-vela?cc=5739#ui-tabs-1
I honestly can't be bothered to look through the numbers and add them up, the numbers used to be on the fantasy prem league site till Vela left. From recollection it was something like 8-10 games TOTAL MINUTES across 3 seasons in the league.
Anyway 09/10 ONE league start, 10 sub appearances, again usually 15 mins or less. FAC 2 starts, 2 assists, CC 1 start, 1 goal. With one league start he got one league goal.
In 10/11 0 league starts for Arsenal, 4 sub appearances, 1 goal(in three shots). 3 CC games, 1 assist. 0 starts in the CL, 4 sub appearances, 2 goals, FAC 1 sub appearance. 3 league starts for West brom 2 goals, 1 assist.
Sorry but where are the "loads" of chances. He scored and assisted well in all competitions in which he was used. He had a total of
3 league starts in 3 years....... that is considered "loads of chances" these days is it? Even in sub appearances you're talking about 26 sub appearances in 3 years, thats nothing. He wasn't remotely given a chance, he looked incredibly good in the cup games, he rarely if ever looked outright poor. He certainly looked better than many first team players and his form went through the roof the second he got more than a few starts in a row.
Vela's quality in preseason was as apparent as Wilshire's, RVP's, Arshavin's, Fabregas's was. There was never a single sign he wasn't good enough and 3 league starts in 3 years is utterly embarrassing.
He lost three years of development not playing basically. Since he left season 1 was 28 starts, 12 goals, 7 assists, season 2 was 32 starts, 14 goals, 9 assists, season 3 is already 2 league starts 2 goals 1 assist, 2 CL games against Lyon(not a tiny team) with 2 goals and 1 assist. he's on course like so many players to after a couple of years of consistent games pushing their game on and he's already looking like having a significantly stronger season.
he is EVERYTHING Walcott isn't. Cooler finishing, massively stronger, doesn't wuss out of tackles, tracks players all the way back to the box and actually knows how to tackle. Has the football brain Walcott badly lacks, can cross excellently, can shoot from anywhere and scores quite a few headed goals. His movement and technique are brilliant, he took the ball from the half way line holding off players, keeping the ball close, going past players then scoring a goal. Walcott loses the ball by his third touch, runs away if someone tries to muscle him off the ball and would then fluff the shot under pressure(not that he'd get there).
