Theo Walcott's Return Will Provide Arsenal With the Width They Need

Arsenal are preparing to welcome back Theo Walcott and with him the width and pace their team has been crying out for.

At a time when Arsenal sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League, it seems slightly perverse to talk about their deficiencies. However, what’s exciting for Arsenal fans is that there is still plenty of room for the Gunners to improve—particularly on the flanks.

In 2012/13, a plague of injuries robbed Arsenal of four full-backs. This season, their attacking wide players have been cursed. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott have all been out for long spells.

Of that trio, the absence of Walcott has hit hardest. Last season, he finally emerged as a senior figure in the Arsenal first team, winning a lucrative new contract in the process. He finished the campaign as Arsenal’s top scorer, netting 21 times in 31 starts.

However, it’s not just his goalscoring that Arsenal have missed. In fact, the heroics of Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud have helped Arsene Wenger’s team compensate for that missing firepower.

There are other aspects of Walcott’s game that make him irreplaceable.

The truth is that Walcott is almost unique in Arsenal’s squad. Dominic Fifield of The Guardian reports that the winger could be back in time for Sunday’s match with Manchester United at Old Trafford. For Arsenal fans, Walcott’s return cannot come soon enough.

When Arsenal seized Mesut Ozil, it was rightly pointed out that they had already had a plethora of potential No. 10s. Arsene Wenger has stock-piled skillful playmakers and turned them in to a bewitching rotating midfield.

Walcott is a different animal entirely. His value comes from the contrast he provides to Arsenal’s “tiki-taka” style. His best work is done off the ball, rather than on it. He combines searing pace with intelligent movement.

In Ozil, Arsenal have the perfect player to release Walcott’s runs. It was notable that on the German’s debut against Sunderland, he put Walcott through on goal twice in the first half. However, just as that understanding was beginning to develop, Walcott succumbed to an abdominal problem. Arsenal are yet to reap the benefits of a promising partnership.

Walcott also allows Arsenal to stretch the play. Although he has stated his desire to play as a centre-forward, Walcott’s best position remains on the right wing.

In recent matches, that slot has been filled by the likes of Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky. While both are quality players, neither can be said to be a true winger.

The following map shows the average positions of all 22 players during the recent Arsenal vs. Liverpool match at the Emirates Stadium:

Note how Arsenal’s ostensible wingers, Rosicky and Santi Cazorla, spent most of the match within the width of the penalty area. This can be beneficial: The interplay between Arsenal’s attacking midfielders can create a dizzying vortex which will suck in even the most canny defender.

However, sometimes Arsenal yearn for someone who can provide some contrast in style. Walcott is the kind of player who is prepared to get chalk on his boots if needs be, staying wide and creating space in the centre for Arsenal’s more technically gifted players to shine.

Wednesday night’s clash with Borussia Dortmund will be the 11th match Walcott has missed, spanning three different competitions. His return from injury would be a timely boost ahead of a huge match with Manchester United.