3," said Nestor. "It was unfortunate, it would ha

He was in England’s World Cup squad in 2006 but 10 years on and supposed to be in his prime, Theo Walcott will not be going to Euro 2016. Time is running out for the Arsenal man to fulfil expectations but his career is a difficult one to assess, writes Adam Bate… Its a decade since Theo Walcott, Englands player-tourist, wandered through Baden-Baden armed with a video camera. Having not even played a game for Arsenal following his January move from Southampton, he was predictably given only a watching brief at the 2006 World Cup. But Sven-Goran Eriksson still departed with a promise. England squad named Marcus Rashford and Jack Wilshere are in Englands provisional 26-man squad for Euro 2016. Youll see that benefit in the next World Cup and then people will be sending me flowers, said Eriksson. Instead, Fabio Capello didnt even take Walcott to South Africa. Four years later, an anterior cruciate ligament injury made the choice for Roy Hodgson. Walcott wont be at Euro 2016 either and will be into his 30th year by the time of the next World Cup. Walcott poses with Arsene Wenger at his Arsenal unveiling in 2006 Where has the time gone? Walcotts career feels like its been on the cusp of reaching the summit of its potential for years now. And yet, could he instead find himself on the downslope without even realising it? At 27, its both a possibility and a shame. Because for all the criticism thats accumulated over the seasons, Walcotts talent is real.His Arsenal career began as a replacement for Freddie Ljungberg in the first ever Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium. Walcott even provided an assist for Gilberto Silvas equaliser that day. Its over nine years since he opened the scoring in the 2007 League Cup final but the wait for true acceptance with club or country continues. Hear why Roy Hodgson picked Andros Townsend instead of Theo Walcott for Englands provisional Euro 2016 squad Consider, for example, the fact that Walcott is already the longest-serving player on Arsenals payroll. He has spent more time at the club than either Ian Wright or Thierry Henry, but opinion is still divided. Walcott is a player who leaves fans wanting more, while still offering enough to leave them making the trek down the Holloway Road with hope.In some ways, the arc of his Arsenal career can be summed up by two derbies. The first came in February 2012. The Gunners were two goals down and Walcott was struggling more than most. Targeted by the home fans, he responded with a brace as Arsenal recovered to win 5-2. Even his first goal came after a poor touch, but it was a turning point of sorts. Walcott celebrating with Robin van Persie, Thierry Henry and Cesc Fabregas Walcott scored 21 goals in the subsequent season, finishing as Arsenals top scorer. It felt like the start of a journey to the top but it now looks like the peak. He began the next campaign well but a cruciate injury against Tottenham in January 2014 was a huge blow. Hed scored five in five going into the game. More than two years on, hes still recovering.It wasnt apparent when he smiled and gesticulated to the Spurs supporters as he made his way from the field on a stretcher that day, but Walcotts confidence suffered. Speaking in October 2015, Arsene Wenger felt it was still a factor in his performances. The only way to help him is to reassure, give confidence, he said. I believe hes still aware of his injury. Walcott scored in the 5-2 win over Leicester in September 2015 Wenger revealed that he had conversations with the England national team about whether Walcott should feature in a European qualifier away to Lithuania because the game was being played on AstroTurf. This was almost a year after hed returned to action let alone picked up the injury. It took him a while to come back, I must say, admitted Wenger.Walcott started two consecutive matches on only two occasions last season - but did manage to score in all four of those games, including the opener in Arsenals FA Cup final win over Aston Villa at Wembley. It shows why Walcott has been worth persisting with. He always offers hope - doing enough to earn a new deal instead of being allowed to walk away. Walcott has scored eight goals in 43 appearances for England As recently as October and the 3-0 home win over Manchester United, Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness was moved to describe Walcotts performance as the best hed seen by him. But theres been little since, indicative of the sort of feast or famine that saw his only three England goals in his first 25 internationals come in one game against Croatia.Walcott did start nine games in a row either side of Christmas, but he has started only three of the last 20 games and two of them were against Hull in the FA Cup. At a time when Olivier Giroud was enduring a goal drought, its surely significant that Wenger still felt unable to entrust the role to Walcott. His managers frustration is clear. Theo Walcott reacts on social media to the news that hes not in Englands provisional squad for Euro 2016 Asked about how Walcott had progressed this term, Wenger said: Not as well as you could have expected. He had good periods in the season. I think recently he has gone through a much more difficult period. But he will come back. He works very hard. He puts in the effort in training.The problem with Theo is he wants to play on the right and through the middle. You have to fix yourself somewhere. Its true that I fixed him more through the middle, because of the quality of his runs and the intelligence of his runs. [But] when he does go through the middle he thinks maybe its better for me on the right. Walcott has not been trusted with too much game time in 2016 Its extraordinary that Wenger is still prevaricating over Walcotts best position at a time when hes already become eligible for a testimonial at the club. The comparison with Henrys transition from winger to forward is surely now moot - the Frenchman was a 21-year-old World Cup winner when he made the switch. Wengers words from earlier this year hint at the reality of the situation. The next four or five years will be absolutely decisive for him because that is when you make your career, he said. Thats when a good player becomes a great player, or just remains a good player. Its an indication that the time will soon pass for such discussions. The next four or five years will be absolutely decisive for him because that is when you make your career,. Thats when a good player becomes a great player, or just remains a good player. Arsene Wenger Walcott can comfort himself with the knowledge that Wright had yet to wear an Arsenal shirt at the same age and that Jamie Vardy hadnt played top-flight football of any kind. On the other hand, 27 was also the age at which Michael Owen scored his last England goal. Extreme pace and cruciate knee ligament injuries are a bad combination in the life of a footballer.Perhaps Walcotts footballing life has now taken another step towards its conclusion. The boy with the camcorder has become a man and weve barely noticed. While theres still time to leave a greater mark - to achieve all that once seemed possible - the fear is that a career defined by England squad selections might somehow be over before he knows it. Also See: England squad named for Euro 2016 Rooney wants midfield role Quincy Williams II Jersey . 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Ryquell Armstead Jaguars Jersey .ca has you covered for whos in, whos out and what to expect from all 30 teams.NEW YORK -- Canadians Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil dropped a 6-7 (1), 7-5, 6-2 decision to the top-seeded duo of Bob and Mike Bryan in third-round mens doubles play Sunday at the U.S. Open. A victory by the unseeded Canadians would have ended the Americans bid for a 2013 Grand Slam sweep. The brothers won earlier this year at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. "We werent thinking of that at all," said Nestor. "We were just trying to win: big match, centre court, TV, you want to win those matches. "But to beat the Bryans you have to play your best, Until a set and 4-3 we were playing as well as we could. But I didnt continue it with my serving." Nestor, from Toronto, was broken over his last four service games and also set up match point for the Bryans with his teams eighth double-fault. Nestors serving troubles began midway through the second set and the Americans took the momentum in a match that lasted just over two hours. "I didnt serve well from 4-3," said Nestor. "It was unfortunate, it would have been nice too go into a tiebreaker in the second set.dddddddddddd "I could have mixed up my serve a bit more, I was getting repetitive with the first serve, which was not going in. My serve was definitely the difference today." With Nestors game off the mark and Pospisil, from Vernon, B.C., short of big-match experience, the Bryans were able to claw back in front of a supportive crowd. The Canadians managed to break on only one of seven chances despite producing well over 50 winners with their attacking style. The brothers pulled even at a set apiece after another break of Nestor, who remains alive in the mixed event with partner Kristina Mladenovic of France. Nestor and Mladenovic won at the French Open in June. Nestor has faced the Bryan brothers 53 times over his career with seven different partners. "It was one of those matches where we were the better team until the end of the second set," Pospisil said. "We got a bit unlucky on the outcome of a few challenges and the match turned. It was a few important points in crucial moments." ' ' '