Arsenal have had to do without the flying England forward for about nine months now and there is no doubt that we have really missed him. Losing his pace was particularly damaging in the latter half of last season, because with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also missing the Gunners were bereft of any pace on the flanks and in attack and we suffered accordingly.
Well how times have changed and it is no wonder that Walcott is rubbing his hands about his imminent return to action, because all of a sudden the Gunners are blessed with pace in abundance. Both of the new forward signings, Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez, are seriously speedy, while the Ox is fit again and there is also Joel Campbell to consider.
And Walcott has not been sitting on his hands while waiting for the cruciate ligaments to heal, as a Daily Mail report reveals. The 25-year old has been working hard on things that he has not been able to do in the normal course of a season and he reckons that the work strengthening his legs will pay dividends and help to ensure that despite all the new fast players at the club, he will still be the quickest off the blocks for Arsenal.
Walcott said, “‘I hope we’ll have the fastest forward line in the Premier League, these are exciting times. These players are very, very fast, they will fit the bill perfectly. Alexis has settled in very quickly, Danny is a good guy I have worked with him with England.
“He always puts his heart on the line. At times I thought he needed to be a bit more selfish so I was very happy on Monday night (when he scored two goals for England) — he will get more goals now.
“I hope to be quicker, definitely. I’ve been working very hard. You’ve got to look at these injuries as a bit of a blessing at times.
“Am I still fastest at the club? That’s the one thing I have not tested yet. That’s the last thing I will do once I’m match-fit.
“I’ve never had the opportunity to work on the strength in my legs and with that I think hopefully I should be quicker and stronger. So that’s what I’m looking forward to.
“I haven’t actually put a date on when I’ll return. It’s weeks rather than months now. My legs have bulked up.”
Speed is not everything, of course, but it is one of the major things that Arsenal were missing last season, so will having it now make Arsenal a much better team?