It’s an open secret that Arsenal is in the market for a goal keeper. It’s again an open secret that Petr Cech is looking for more game time and aiming for a move away fromn Chelsea. It’s another open secret that Cech wants to stay in London. Add one and one and you will get the answer.
So…Cech to Arsenal? Definitely possible; in fact, it would have already been done had it not been for Jose Mourinho. The self-proclaimed ‘Chosen one’ believes that Arsenal is a strong competitor and hence strengthening them is at his own peril. Letting Cech join Arsene Wenger is something Mourinho never wants to do.
Amidst all this, it is still rumored that Cech wants to move to Arsenal. Reluctant he may be but Mourinho would be pulled into a deal if Wenger throws in a player in exchange. He’s interested in Theo Walcott or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
So, who will it be or rather who should it be?
Let’s look at the similarities. Both Walcott and Ox are speedy wingers. They are expected to torment the defenders with their agility. Both are young Englishmen with great things expected of them. Least of all, both of them are injury prone.
Now, for the dissimilarities; the ones that may determine whom Mourinho actually wish to get in the deal. Walcott is quick going forward but is not really known to track back and defend. Ox is no Cesc Fabregas in defending the lines but he certainly is better than Theo. Typically the player Mourinho likes and adores!
Theo is a contract rebel at Arsenal. Be it money or need for more game time….Walcott is yet to commit his future to Arsenal. Ox isn’t entirely in a different plane, which means if Mourinho pursues a little further he may get his wish.
Theo and Ox compete in a strong group of mid fielders and it is not difficult to see why they are not regulars. Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Darren Welbeck….the list goes on and on! It is difficult for these two to jump into the starting XI.
This is exactly the reason why Theo and Ox are looking to move away from the club. But, there is no guarantee that they would get what they want at Chelsea. Mourinho is more than well stocked in this department and the two Gunners would never be walking into the first team. Theo and Ox will do better to look at what happened to Salah and Cuadrado.
What’s best for both of them is to stay at Arsenal and fight for places. After all, it is not too difficult to please the old gaffer. More so because if you have to choose one of them to trade for Cech, it would be very difficult to pick one!