Paul Merson has claimed that Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud should be unhappy with their lack of playing time at Arsenal.
The duo both began Friday’s 4-3 win over Leicester City on the bench, and came on to help turn over the 3-2 deficit. Giroud even bagged himself the winning goal in the 85th minute to show his worth to the Gunners, but he will remain as the club’s second choice behind Alexandre Lacazette, who opened the scoring.
Olivier has been linked with the exit door all summer, knowing he would now be playing second fiddle to the club record signing from Lyon, but has declared that he has no wish to leave the club, and will stay put.
Theo Walcott has also been linked with moves to West Ham among others, but also seems keen to stay, despite struggling for game time since the club switched to a 3-4-2-1 formation during last term.
Paul Merson believes the pair should be unhappy with their situations however, claiming they should be eager to play regularly especially with the World Cup coming up next summer, but both wish to continue in their bit-part roles instead.
“They’re all happy,” the former striker said.
“You say about keeping them happy, they’re not fussed, you never see any of them wanting to leave.
“If I was Walcott I would be doing what Coutinho is doing now and saying ‘I want a transfer, I’m not playing, I want to play football’.
“But they don’t do they, they just sit there, it’s nice isn’t it’, it’s just lovely. It is, it’s nice, they’re loved.
“I feel sorry for Giroud because he is France’s centre-forward and the problem will be if he doesn’t play this season, will he go to the World Cup?
“All these footballers will be looking at that this season.”
Are Walcott and Giroud keen to fight for their place, or simply happy to play minor roles in the side? Will both be on the plane to Russia next summer?
Pat J