I understand that Arsene Wenger wanted to be extra careful with the Arsenal and England international star Theo Walcott. It was not just the fact that the anterior cruciate ligament injury picked up by the pacy player kept him out for around a year either. That was not Walcott’s first spell out and he only managed 13 Premier League games in total.
But Walcott has been back long enough now and has been looking sharp when on the pitch. So after he was not started against the Spuds in the North London derby defeat last weekend, I thought he would be a nailed on starter against Middlesborough in the FA cup.
But Wenger left him on the bench and risked the fitness of Alexis Sanchez despite suggesting that the Chilean was struggling with injury and fatigue in the week. As a Daily Star report reveals, Wenger has also suggested that Alexis has pretty much replaced the Englishman at the minute and that Walcott may struggle to see regular action.
Wenger said of Walcott, “His fitness is there now and we will see game by game.
“It is a big challenge for Theo but the player who has had the biggest offensive impact up to now is Sanchez. Walcott can score goals as well.”
With a really tough and important period of the season ahead of us, surely Arsenal will need as many of our top players fit and in form as possible, so I thought that the FA cup clash was the perfect chance to give Theo a good run out. The fact he didn’t get it suggests to me that Wenger is not convinced that he is a key player for us any more. What do you think?