Theo Walcott Can Be a Key Figure in Arsenal's Season Run-in
Theo Walcott's contract status is uncertain, and he's under pressure at both the club level and the international level. But don't bet against him just yet.
The speedy forward can still be a key figure during Arsenal's season run-in.
Walcott has the scoring potential to add the vital goals and attacking threat that can make a difference in crunch time. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger hasn't forgotten about those skills, even if he's recently been content to leave Walcott on the bench more than the England international's talent would warrant.
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Perhaps Wenger's decision is being influenced by that pesky contract status. Walcott's current deal runs out at the end of next season.
His lengthy spells on the treatment table and lack of playing time during this campaign could prompt the one-time Southampton man to turn his back on Wenger and seek new pastures.
That's been the speculation at least. Yet the player himself recently offered a strongly worded rebuttal to these claims, via his official Twitter account:
Despite the player's adamant stance, Wenger stressed renewal talks are already underway, during an interview with beIN Sports (h/t ESPN FC). Wenger wants to keep Walcott, a reflection of the tremendous faith he has in his players.
Not many managers would be as patient with a forward who's missed extensive playing time almost every season since joining the Gunners in January 2006.
The injuries have pushed Walcott down the pecking order at Arsenal, as well as with England. Jeremy Wilson of The Telegraph noted that both squads are no longer as reliant on Walcott for width and pace.
He cited the presence of Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Arsenal. The latter pair join Raheem Sterling to give England boss Roy Hodgson a plethora of talent in wide areas.
But none of those players, bar Sanchez, can make a difference in front of goal the way a fully fit and confident Walcott can. That talent for finding the net is the sole reason Wenger can justify his continued faith in the brittle 26-year-old.
It's also why Walcott can be a defining asset in Arsenal's push for their highest league position since 2005, as well as their bid to retain the FA Cup.
Even after the serious knee injury that interrupted his career in January 2014, Walcott has lost none of his awesome acceleration. Along with his improved movement, he still has the right qualities to stretch any defence.
At peak form, those attributes are usually matched by efficiency in front of goal. Walcott has always been an underrated finisher, one who rarely misses the target or fails to test goalkeepers.
However, his latest prolonged time out has clearly shaken his assurance when presented with a chance. Despite comeback goals against Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup and Aston Villa in the Premier League, Walcott has been wasteful recently.
He spurned a lorry load of chances in the 3-0 win over West Ham United. It was also telling that Walcott's reintroduction to the international scene was marked by him squandering the type of chance he usually takes without breaking a sweat.
Within minutes of entering the fray during England's 4-0 win over Lithuania in Euro 2016 qualifying, Walcott was presented with a one-on-one chance. Sprinting into the left-hand side of the box, he was only a simple side-foot finish across the goalkeeper away from scoring.
Instead, he tamely rolled the ball straight into the grateful stopper's hands. It was a tame, cautious effort from a player missing some bravado in the box.
Yet despite the absence of his usual confidence, Wenger shouldn't give up on Walcott. In fact, Arsenal need him to rediscover his swagger.
The goals have dried up for Sanchez, and they've always been in short supply for Welbeck. So the Gunners have been left heavily reliant on Olivier Giroud's contributions.
Thankfully, the bullish centre-forward has been delivering. He's netted six goals in as many games during a superb flourish in the second half of the season.
But Arsenal will need more than just Giroud's goals. Perhaps ultra-gifted midfield workhorse Aaron Ramsey can help out.
Even during an injury-hit campaign, Ramsey has still scored eight times, per the club's official site. But he suffered a minor groin injury after helping Wales beat Israel 3-0 during this international break.
The midfielder did reassure fans he's OK, per the Daily Star's Jamie Anderson, but staying fit has been a major issue this season.
An on-song Walcott could easily give Arsenal 10 goals in the last nine or 10 games of this season. He's capable of the type of run Freddie Ljungberg produced during the 2002 run-in.
His goals, in combination with Dennis Bergkamp's flair and ingenuity, pushed the Gunners over the line to earn a league and FA Cup double.
Repeating that trophy haul is likely going to be too tall an order since Arsenal trail Chelsea by seven points and the current leaders have a game in hand. But there are similarities between Ljungberg's prolific sprint and what Walcott and the Gunners may achieve during the final stage of this season.
If he gets the games, Walcott won't be wanting for scoring chances. Mesut Ozil is playing his best football in an Arsenal shirt, while fellow playmaker Santi Cazorla is also enjoying a superb campaign.
Meanwhile, Giroud, a brilliant link player, has always had an excellent rapport with Walcott. So there's no shortage of players able to supply his Cheetah-like pace.
There's also a precedent for a prolific late-season run from the England man. In 2013, Walcott goals against Manchester United, Queens Park Rangers and Wigan Athletic helped the Gunners seal UEFA Champions League qualification.
Those strikes were part of his best season at the club level, during which he netted 21 goals. They came during another contract year. If that was the motivation, few would begrudge more cynicism if it prompts Walcott to produce his best form now.
He won't approach 21 goals this season, but Walcott could trouble more than one opponent left on the fixtures list.
If all goes well, Arsenal's most decisive league game will be the home clash against Chelsea on April 26. The Gunners will need Walcott to overcome the Blues.
He has an excellent record against Chelsea, having scored five times against the Stamford Bridge club. Then there's Arsenal's FA Cup semi-final date with Reading to consider. Walcott's netted four times in his last two games against the Royals.
As Ljungberg did before him, Walcott can make a decisive difference in both the league and the cup run.
Similar to the current squad, the 2002 vintage had become a little too reliant on Thierry Henry's goals. They also might have suffered due to the untimely injury to creative maestro Robert Pires.
Ljungberg's form came at just the right time. Walcott can make the same impact for this season's Arsenal.
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