Why Theo Walcott Is the Arsenal Man with Most to Prove in Final Weeks of Season
Theo Walcott is rapidly approaching a pivotal moment in his career. This summer, he must either sign a new contract with Arsenal or be sold elsewhere.
His performances between now and the end of the season will play a huge role in determining where his future lies.
Walcott recently took to Twitter to dismiss speculation that there had been a training ground bust-up with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger. He wrote:
"I don’t normally comment on false stories about myself but reports about contract demands and bust-ups with the boss are complete nonsense. There have been no contract talks as yet and my current focus is not on contracts but on doing my best for Arsenal FC.
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However, the looming spectre of those contract negotiations will not go away. Whatever the eventual outcome, the onus is on Walcott to deliver. Either he must demonstrate his continued worth to Arsenal or perform well enough to attract other suitors.
Spending almost a year on the sidelines has put him in a difficult position. While he was injured, Arsenal recruited both Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck and were able to afford Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain enough game-time to accelerate his development. That has relegated Walcott to the role of high-profile reserve.
Prior to England’s match against Lithuania, Roy Hodgson spoke to David Hytner of the Guardian about the perilous position Walcott is currently in:
"That’s the thing about football, isn’t it? If you’re not careful, there’s always someone behind you waiting to take your place. It’s a dog-eat-dog world. Every time, sometimes through no fault of your own, you can be injured. But then, suddenly, your position, which had looked very secure, suddenly six months down the line, is not so secure.
Crossroads is probably quite a tough term. I don’t want to be quoted saying he’s at a crossroads. But it is an important few months for him. He’s got to satisfy a few of his critics and, if you like, make certain that a) he stays fit and b) gets his place back as one of the first names on the Arsenal team sheet. When he does that, he might be pushing to be a first name on the England team sheet.
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Hodgson’s words carry significant weight. Given that he is a close friend of Arsene Wenger, it’s probably safe to say the two have discussed Walcott’s position in some depth.
Walcott did make a brief cameo appearance against Lithuania. It’s a role he is becoming accustomed to, with Welbeck seemingly ahead of him in the pecking order for both club and country.
Welbeck’s man-of-the match-display against the Lithuanians will have done little to help Walcott regain his place with either team.
He still has plenty to offer. There are few players with his lethal combination of explosive pace and composed finishing. In the rush to write Walcott off, his positive attributes have been somewhat overlooked.
If given the chance to shine between now and the end of the campaign, he must seize it. If Walcott wants to be in a powerful negotiating position come the summer, he must serve everyone a timely reminder of his talents.
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.
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