Why Theo Walcott Can Spark Arsenal's Season Back to Life

Width: It's something every Arsenal fan heard commentators talk about ad nauseam last season, and something with which the Gunners still struggle.

They played half of last season with no natural wingers and the entire team was worse off for it. There was no one out wide to whom the midfielders could pass the ball.

Arsenal were, in short, robbed of any and all speed.

Not only could no one challenge the opposition's full-backs and make piercing counterattacking runs (resulting in a stagnant, boring attack), none of the midfielders Arsene Wenger played on the wings actually remained in their positions.

Instead, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil and others repeatedly drifted back into the middle of the pitch, clogging it with so many players that there was no open space—except on the wings, of course, where there was no one but the other team's full-backs.

Wenger recognized this problem and consequently made Alexis Sanchez his first and marquee summer signing. The Chilean has already had an enormous impact on the Gunners' attack, injecting pace and boundless energy into the forward line.

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That is exactly what Arsenal have missed with Walcott out due to an ACL tear. It is no surprise that the addition of one speedy player, despite his exceptional quality, has had an outsized impact.

Fans should be buzzing with excitement now that Walcott is back in full training again.

While Alexis has played on one flank, filling the other has been a problem for Wenger this season. He has usually resorted to Cazorla or Ozil; the former has been hot and cold, the latter disastrous.

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Regardless of how suited either player is to the position, Ozil will now be out for an extended period of time. Arsenal need other options, as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Tomas Rosicky are the only other replacements that come to mind.

Wenger never seems to have adequate numbers anywhere, and Walcott's return will free up Cazorla (and Ozil, when he returns) to take up his natural position in attacking midfield, spraying passes to wingers who can get in behind defenses.

Walcott should also lubricate Arsenal's gummed up attack, which seems to perpetually stall every single time they advance the ball to the penalty box.

He provides that extra flair and incisiveness that a midfielder simply does not. He constantly searches for a way to penetrate, and will make Arsenal more of a counterattacking side—as they should be.

It is easy to forget how prolific a goalscoring force Walcott was before he got hurt. The Englishman was Arsenal's top scorer during the 2012-13 season, and honed his clinical touch in front of goal to the point where he almost acted like a second striker.

Though he is not an out-and-out striker, Walcott can also relieve the massive pressure on Danny Welbeck's shoulders by starting up front against lesser opponents. 

More than anything, though, it will be so refreshing to see Arsenal have two speedy wingers again, offering something different than endless passing and adding fresh ideas in the final third.

For all of the Gunners' creative talent, they lack ingenuity. But that is not wholly the fault of the creators; there is often nothing for them to create.

Although it is unfortunate that Ozil and Walcott will not be able to resume their brief and very successful partnership, the latter's return might well be the single factor that sparks life back into a staid Arsenal team.

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