Arsenal might face a repeat of last year’s uncertainty regarding the contract extension of star man Theo Walcott. The English International has postponed any kind of talks over his contract until the end of the season. His current contract with the club expires at the end of next season, meaning this may well prove to be a penultimate season for Theo Walcott.
Over the years, the English winger has been a vital part of the club ever since his breakout season in 2007. However, considering the fact that Arsenal may need to perform a squad overhaul in order to regain their status as footballing giants, should Arsene Wenger get rid of Theo Walcott next summer?
As mentioned earlier, Theo Walcott has been a key figure in the club’s success over the last decade or so. Since joining the Gunners in 2006, the 28-year-old has scored an impressive 108 goals along with providing 76 assists in all competitions.
Although the English International hasn’t been a regular in the Arsenal first team this season, he has remained a vital part of the club’s Europa League campaign, where he has performed excellently, scoring three goals and notching up three assists in just five games.
Theo Walcott is also important when it comes to the attacking depth Arsenal have got on their roster at the moment. Although more and more youth players are making a strong impression for Arsenal, the experiencing of Theo Walcott is very crucial, especially in big games, where players like Reiss Nelson or Maitland-Niles just doesn’t work.
Furthermore, considering the fact that two of Arsenal’s biggest offensive superstars in Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are on the verge of leaving the Emirates next summer, Theo Walcott’s presence in the squad becomes even more vital for the club.
The Gunners have already been proven out to be shallow in the offensive department, even with the services of Ozil and Sanchez at times this season and Walcott’s departure will only a series of troubles for the London giants. The 28-year-old could serve as a first-team regular until a proper replacement for either Sanchez or Ozil(or both) comes through.
Therefore, the departure of Theo Walcott could be a huge gamble, for which the Gunners just simply can’t afford right now. Arsenal should instead draw their attention to scouting an able replacement for their attacking superstars while working on extending the contract of Theo Walcott in the process.
