Danny Welbeck Injury Opens Door for Long-Awaited Theo Walcott Return for Arsenal

Almost exactly one calendar year after suffering a devastating cruciate ligament injury, Theo Walcott could be set to make his return to the Arsenal starting line-up.

It was January 4 of last year when Theo Walcott departed Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Tottenham in the FA Cup, taunting the Tottenham fans by indicating the scoreline from his stretcher. At the time, the injury was no great cause for concern: If he was well enough to engage in mocking the Spurs supporters as he departed, the knee problem that had ended his participation surely couldn’t be too serious?

Well, it was. A ruptured anterior cruciate ligament kept him out until November. He made two brief cameos totalling 22 minutes before succumbing to a groin strain picked up during shooting practise with England.

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Since overcoming that minor problem, Walcott has been forced to wait for his chance. He has been an unused substitute on seven separate occasions, most recently at Upton Park. Arsene Wenger has been understandably cautious about reintroducing Walcott to the tumult of the Premier League.

However, his hand may now be forced. At his press briefing ahead of the Southampton game, Wenger told Goal.com that Danny Welbeck was “a doubt” for St. Mary’s. The England striker had left the pitch at the Boleyn Ground clutching his hamstring after another lung-bursting sprint. After a busy festive period, he may be due a lay-off.

That could open the door, at long last, for Walcott. If Welbeck fails to make it, Walcott’s speed and movement make him the obvious replacement. 

Wenger admits that, physically at least, he is ready. Speaking to Goal.com, he confirmed: “On the fitness front, he [Walcott] is ready to play.” What he needs now is to tune the finer details. Those are the things that only playing competitive football can bestow.

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He needs to discover if he is sturdy enough to ride challenges again. Since undergoing operations on his weak shoulders, Walcott has been able to engage more effectively in one-on-one battles with defenders. After a long-term injury, it always takes some time and one or two sturdy tackles for a player to regain confidence in their physical strength.

Then there’s the question of speed. Walcott’s greatest strength has always been his pace, and there is a prevailing anxiety over whether he’ll be as quick over the grass as he once was. Arsene Wenger insists the evidence on the training field suggests he has lost nothing, but the pitches of the Premier League will provide the real test.

St. Mary’s would be an appropriate place for Walcott to make the first start of his comeback. It is, after all, the stadium where it all began for him as a teenager.

Remarkably, that was almost a decade ago. Walcott’s now 25 and eager to make up for lost time. Start the gun and watch him go.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.