Jamie Carragher has told Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott that they should consider moves away from the club, as Jack Wilshere has done for the season.
Wilshere has joined Bournemouth on loan for the rest of the term, and will be hoping to get his career back on track having had a large number of injury setbacks previously.
The 24 year-old missed all but two league matches in the previous year having suffered with a fractured fibula, and has now agreed to leave the Gunners in hope of finding some regular football in order to try and find some consistency with his form and fitness.
Had Jack of stayed in North-London, he would have had to vie with the likes of Granit Xhaka, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny, Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla for his favoured role, as well as trying to convince Arsene Wenger that his desired position is not out wide, where he has been fielded most recently.
Wilshere will now expect to play regularly in his favoured position, without the need to constantly fight a number of others for match minutes, and it is hoped that this move will finally put an end to his frustrations.
Jamie Carragher has now urged England duo Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott to consider their options, having also suffered with inconsistencies.
He said: “Wilshere featured in three of England’s games at Euro 2016. He admitted on Arsenal’s tour of America that this will be a definitive season for him and I like that he has chosen to go to Bournemouth to get up and running.
“Given Arsenal’s record with injuries, it might even be that a new way of working allows him to be available more.
“Perhaps in the future Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott will follow his lead. This is a make-or-break campaign for them. If it doesn’t work out, it would be best to try something new.”
I have been calling out for the Ox leave in search of regular first-team football for months now, and he remains young enough to appreciate the efforts put in to help get the best out of him. The same can not be said for Walcott however.
The former Southampton youth product is now 27 years-old, and I cant help but think that should he leave, it would only be on a permanent deal. Saying that, his exit could be better for everyone, including England, as Arsenal fans have become over-judgemental of his performances, and his confidence must suffer because of it.
Should the Ox and Theo leave in search of first-team action? Should Theo simply just leave?
Pat J