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Has the loss of this man affected our title challenge?

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Theo WalcottGerard Houllier believes Arsenal’s Premier League title charge has faded due to the mounting injuries occurred in the latter stages of the season, pinpointing the loss of Theo Walcott as the most important of the lot.

The 24-year-old England winger was ruled out for the remainder of the season and World Cup after picking up a serious knee injury in Arsenal’s 2-0 FA Cup win over Spurs two months ago.

Arsene Wenger has since seen regulars Jack Wilshere, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey sidelined through injury, and former Liverpool boss Houllier reckons it is no surprise to see Arsenal struggling to stay in touch with those above them in the table.

When asked why Arsenal have slipped down the table in recent weeks, Houllier said:

‘They lost some key players [that’s why]. Suppose Steven Gerrard, maybe [Luis] Suarez and another defender were out against Tottenham, it could have been a different game.

‘At this moment the big loss for them was Theo Walcott. Theo was giving them some depth and some speed up front and once they lost him the results suffered.

‘Particularly in big games he’s a threat and he can make goals and score goals. He had improved a lot so it’s a shame he’s not playing at the moment.’

He finished off by saying:

‘They lost Theo, Wilshere and Ramsey, who had a terrific start to the season. It is too many key players plus the fact they look a bit more tired than the others [hasn’t helped].’

There is no doubt that the loss of several players in the crucial stages of the campaign have cost us. But it’s no excuse in my opinion, not when Wenger had the chance to do something about it in January, especially after learning that Walcott was out for the season.

Although Wilshere, Ramsey and Ramsey are key members of the side, like Houllier, I also think the loss of Walcott is the most key. We lack pace at the moment, someone to make runs in behind defenders and that has shown in the last three games or so. His pace has been sorely missed and had he and the other three been fit, I’m sure we would have had a few extra points on the board.

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8 comments

  • Laitan says:

    Undoubtedly the lost of Theo is the singular reason why will not be league champions !!

  • Najeeb Hashi says:

    Could not agree more. But Wenger missed the January window opportunity to sign someone although, he had Ramsey injured. Hopefully, they will be able to remedy it next season.

  • kenneth says:

    It will be the same old story with wenger.He never learn.How could he keep making the same mistake every year.As someone that had played pro football in Nigeria, it is always the teams that ve good bench that win the league. Wenger knows this as a coach. What angers me the most is that he had a chance in january but he went for a player that he already knew had a back injury, instead going for a player that will make a direct inpact in the team like chelsea and other clubs did.I ve said it befor and i will say again, Wenger should go.

  • fred says:

    I don’t know where some of these guys expect Wenger to go in January and get a guy like Walcott. They are just not available. It is not a supermarket!

  • stan says:

    they were all starters i agreed with him..

  • Samuel Akinsola Adebosin says:

    I think the boss thought he could have managed with his other players left to win. Unfortunately three negative results at Stoke and 2 home draws to Swansea and Man City have deprived the Gunners 7 inclusive points, which would have taken them to 71pts by now. But alas! They didn’t win these games and are now battling for 4th or goodluck-3rd instead of 1st. Without Walcott, Ozil, Ramsey and Wilshere, the remaining fit Gunners have proved they are just a bunch of Mediocres on the field of play, instead of being victors and write their names in the book of victors by winning the Premier League. Talking big after a defeat or drawing 2 vital home games will not win the title for Arsenal. But winning these matches could have. The Gunners will have only themselves to blame at the end of the season for not seizing this opportunity that presented itself to them for seizing, instead they have allowed Liverpool or Man City to seize it away from them due to their mediocrity display. The boss is not at fault. We cannot blame him, he has coached you Gunners thoroughly. But you guys refused to conform. You Gunners simply took victory for granted instead of taking it.

  • Fabian says:

    Bunch of arsenal fans thought Giroud could win them trophies, and they still believe that he is a good striker with his 13 epl goals, but they have to look and analyse the types of goals he scored, more than 90% are ‘tape in goals’. He depends on physical presence to disturb weak defenders from mid table teams and play the ball back, he can’t run with the ball past defenders, he can’t win penalties, he misses a lot of goal scoring opportunities. For me with the creative midfielders the team have, our striker should have been a top goal scorer of the league with at least 30goals a season, something i believe Walcot could have done it. People keep talking about Ozil drop of form but they don’t assess how many chances he created to Giroud per game and went missed?. Plse Arsene sell Giroud, convert Walcot to striking role, buy baloteli to play alongside him, extend Sagna’s contract, keep hold of Varmalen and Fabianski, don’t respond to Morinho’s madness and extend your contract. Goöners tl die

  • Grizz says:

    We know it was the loss of Key players that has changed the course of our season, but I just don’t get this “blame Wenger for not buying in the January transfer window” attitude.
    Where exactly were these special players ?….even if available would they have been cup-tied ?
    Are these wonderful players going to come, knowing full well that as soon as the regular boys are fit again they will be benched, would they accept our pay structure………It’s not that Arsene didn’t know he needed players, so what do you expect him to do, buy a load of average players like the spuds did ?
    We have to get over it, look forward to next season, then judge the manager and the board as the club are in a much stronger position to buy in the summer, but also don’t forget whatever “class” players become available their price tags will be over inflated by the maket forces of our opponents ie Europes top clubs will be looking at them as well.
    If we sign top players, they will come because of Arsene Wenger, he is a TOP manager that has worked a miracle keeping us up there whilst under huge financial restraint….those shackles are about to be lifted….every true Arsenal fan must be able to see the bigger long term picture.

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