Theo Walcott and Arsenal go way back. Ever since moving to the club as a 16 year old from Southampton, Walcott has been an ever-present cog in the Gunners attack, tormenting opposing defenses with his blistering pace. Recently however, his place in the side has been anything but guaranteed. A change in formation coupled with the addition of Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck have left Walcott stranded on the bench since returning from injury, with a majority of his appearances this season coming as a substitute. The English winger is one of the biggest names in the Premier League, and having him as a consistent fixture on the bench seems downright criminal. It appears Theo Walcott’s days at Arsenal could very well be numbered, with a departure from the club possibly in the offing.
At his best, Walcott is an unstoppable force on the Arsenal right side. While he won’t wow you with silky dribbling or 360 vision, he has one attribute that makes him one of the most dangerous outlets in football – intelligent running. Everyone knows Walcott is quick. He was the first player to break Thierry Henry’s 40 meter sprint time, and consistently displays his blazing speed over the course of a 90 minute football game. It’s how he utilizes this pace that truly makes him a special player. In terms of off ball running, there are few players more adept than Walcott. The Englishman has made a living hanging on the shoulder of the last defender, timing his runs to perfection and bursting in behind the defense. While the prototypical Arsene Wenger wide player is known to tuck inside and contribute to the buildup play, Walcott seems sizably more interested in contributing the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle. His uniqueness makes him near impossible for opposing clubs to defend against, and the level of defensive awareness he requires leaves large portions of the pitch open for other Arsenal attackers to exploit. While he’s tallied his fair share of frustrating moments during his time in North London, Walcott has distinguished his greatest attribute and perfected it. He may be slightly one dimensional, but the dimension he excels at is enough to terrify even the most accomplished of defenders.
While Walcott has proven himself as a dominant force in attack, a few factors have rendered him an impact sub since his return from injury. For starters, Arsenal’s switch to a new formation has sacrificed one of the wide spots for an extra midfielder. In Arsene Wenger’s traditional 4-2-3-1 system, Walcott was a consistent presence on the right side of the 4 man attack, making runs for fellow attacking midfielders Mesut Özil and Santi Cazorla. With the addition of Alexis Sanchez and the adoption of the new 4-1-4-1/4-3-3 hybrid however, both wide spots are now occupied. After signing for £35m from Barcelona last summer, a steady spot on the wing has always been guaranteed for the tricky Chilean winger. Alexis has repaid Arsene Wenger’s faith brilliantly, contributing 18 goals and 10 assists while more or less carrying the Gunners through the first half of the season. The other flank is a slightly trickier situation. German record signing Mesut Özil has occupied a wide position for a majority of the season, shifting away from the preferred number 10 role he’s filled for most of his career to accommodate Santi Cazorla or Jack Wilshere in the center of the pitch. While it initially appeared to be a failed experiment, Özil’s recent top form since returning from injury shows a spot on the flank could indeed be a long term option. Taking this into account, there simply seems to be no room for Walcott in this current Arsenal setup. Unless one of Alexis or Walcott take over as the long term center forward, the Englishman will be stuck on the bench, forced to act primarily as a squad player. This seems to be a scenario he is very unlikely to be content with.
Additionally, Walcott lacks a trait that is an absolutely necessity in Arsenal’s newly adopted counter attack system – defending. While his contributions on the offensive end of the pitch can not be understated, Walcott has picked up a fair share of criticism throughout his career for failing to track back. Having spent most of his time at Arsenal on the same side as the defensively astute Bacary Sagna in a system that valued possession and fluidity, he could often get away with his low defensive standards. Now, the circumstances have changed. Arsene Wenger’s recently instated pragmatic approach calls for all 10 outfield players to defend, including the forwards. Walcott’s main competition for a spot in the side has been with fellow English wide men Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck, but their superior work rate has rendered him bottom of Arsenal’s winger pecking order. The defensive side of the game is one that a player can develop over time, even in the later stages of their career. Given Walcott’s past failings at doing so however, this scenario appears to be growing increasingly unlikely by the day.
Theo Walcott has been a tremendous servant to Arsenal, but his days with the Gunners could very well be numbered. From the change of tactics to the fact that his contract is set to expire in 2016, many factors indicate that he could be on his way out. The Englishman would surely attract a plethora of interested suitors, and any signs that he may want out could inspire massive competition for his signature. Walcott is a brilliant commodity, and keeping him would be in both the player and club’s best interest. Given the current situation however, his future with the club has been cast in some serious doubt.
