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Will he struggle to get back into the side?

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WalcottFormer Arsenal left-back Nigel Winterburn believes Theo Walcott will have to fight for his place in the side when he returns from his long-term injury.

Walcott has been sidelined since January after suffering knee ligament damage during Arsenal’s FA Cup victory over Spurs.

Since the forward’s absence, Arsene Wenger has added to his attacking options recruiting Danny Welbeck from Manchester United and Alexis Sanchez from Barcelona.

Both Welbeck and Sanchez will provide stiff yet healthy competition between the forward men and while Winterburn believes Walcott won’t fit straight back into the side, the Arsenal legend reckons he will be a key player to Wenger’s plans this season.

Winterburn told talkSPORT:

‘I’m not sure Walcott will come straight back into the side.

‘If you remember at the start of last season he was injured and came off the bench a lot and had a massive impact.

‘Eventually, though, he will come back into the team. Theo is a player I really like, he’s got genuine pace, his goalscoring ability is very, very good.’

He finished off by saying:

‘I think he’ll eventually come in on the right wing, and with Olivier Giroud out for a while it means Welbeck can play on his own up front, with maybe Sanchez going over to the left.

‘With that front three, that’s how I see Arsenal’s best formation going forward, even when everyone is fit.’

Of course Theo won’t be thrown straight back into the starting line-up, knee ligament damage isn’t nothing to play with and Wenger will know this. The Frenchman will slowly introduce Walcott into games from the bench to begin with and when he feels the player is ready only then will he start him.

It’s not going to be easy for Walcott to get back into the side, however. We have a lot of talent and options in midfield, so only the ones on form will keep their place in the starting line-up. So Walcott, will have to prove to Wenger that he deserves a shot over others currently in front of him when he is back.

It will be interesting to see how Wenger sets out his team when everyone is fit and available, but for the time being, with Giroud out until the New Year, Welbeck will more than likely lead the line, with Sanchez and Walcott (when fully fit) on either side.

It looks great on paper and I for one can’t wait to see these front three play alongside each other.

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