Arsenal are sitting in the 5th spot of the Premier League 15 points behind league leaders, Manchester City. A title win might not be a realistic target for the Gunners but a top 4 finish most definitely should be after last year’s shortcomings.
Arsene Wenger’s side has progressed to the knockout stages of the Europa League and are set to appear in the League Cup and FA Cup pretty soon. He is currently dealing with the exit possibilities of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, two of the club’s biggest stars. Their reluctance to sign a contract extension beyond this season has left the Arsenal faithful bewildered over the club’s future.
With very low grounds for negotiation, Arsenal can still try to cash in by selling them in January rather than letting them walk out for free at the end of the season. If the transfers do take place, it would be foolish to further weaken the team by selling Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud.
Walcott has hardly featured for the club in the current season with only 618 minutes of game time. He was fallen way below the pecking order after the summer signing of Alexandre Lacazette and the return of Danny Welbeck from injury. Mostly coming off the bench or starting a few games in domestic cups and Europa League matches, Walcott has grown frustrated over his recent state of affairs.
Arsene Wenger however, heavily stated that Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud are very important components of the team and he has no wish to sell the pair. Eyeing for a strong finish to the season and already into the heavy schedule in the month of December, the Frenchman will need depth and experience from the team, which both Walcott and Giroud possess in boatloads.
He was empathetic towards them and understood their frustrations, while also defending his position to work with the resources he has towards the club’s best interest.
Theo Walcott arrived at Arsenal in 2006 as one of England’s topmost youth talents with blistering pace on the wings and an eye for the goal. He was the youngest player to be called up for international duties at only 17 years of age. After being dubbed the next best thing, it is a mystery as to how far he has fallen behind other teammates in the current Arsenal squad.
Wenger mostly deploys him as a striker for the team, with his lack of growth as a traditional winger. The 28-year-old has registered more than 100 goals for the club in all competitions.
In order to resurrect his career, Walcott might have to work harder to develop a more versatile skill base while performing to the best of his capabilities whenever he gets a chance. Still, in Arsene Wenger’s good eye, the Englishman’s future might not be that bleak.
