Theo Walcott has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a serious hamstring injury during our dull 0-0 draw with Chelsea yesterday afternoon.
He picked up the injury in the 58th minute, yet the 23-year-old decided to play on, despite Arsene Wenger wanting to replace him immediately. Three minutes later however, he was withdrawn after aggravating the injury further.
During the post match interview, a frustrated Wenger spoke of Theo’s injury and effectively ruled him out for the remaining three fixtures.
The Frenchman said:
‘He wanted to stay on the pitch and carry on but I felt he should have moved off straight away.
‘The second time it was a real problem. It looks a serious hamstring. Now it will be tough to return before the end of the season.’
He added:
‘He should be OK for England. I don’t think he’ll be ready to play for us.’
To be honest, and I know this may come as a shock to many Arsenal fans out there, but I don’t we’ll miss him.
I know he has produced nine assists and scored the same amount of goals, but in truth, Theo has been very inconsistent and ineffective in a lot, a lot of games this season. I for one have been left unimpressed and frustrated more times than delighted with his performances this term.
In any case, with Theo out and vacating his right wing role until next season’s campaign, who should step in?
Well I believe there are six possible candidates for Wenger to consider for the job:
Andre Santos
Despite Santos being a left sided player, Wenger could decide to play the Brazilian on the right wing. He may not be as comfortable in this position as he would on the other side of the field, but it would give the 29-year-old a chance to cut inside and have some shots on goal. It’s an option for Arsene to think about, but probably the least likely out of the five choices – suitability rating: 5/10
Abou Diaby
The French midfielder has played in these wide positions in the past and has been fairly productive when he has done. Has just come back from injury which may concern Wenger, but did feature in yesterdays 0-0 draw with Chelsea, and looked in good shape – suitability rating: 5/10
Aaron Ramsey
Is well out-of-form and has increasingly become a figure of abuse for The Emirates boo-boys. However, Wenger has kept the faith in Rambo and continues to feature him in the line-up. Taking this into account, the Frenchman may decide to slot him into the wide role to give him more time on the pitch and boost his confidence. I wouldn’t personally, but Wenger may decide to do so – suitability rating: 5/10
Yossi Benayoun
Has started Arsenal’s last two fixtures, and I’m pretty sure he would’ve started yesterday if he wasn’t ineligible. The Israeli is a very determined and seasoned professional who can create chances and doesn’t shun away from his defensive duties. A very possible option for Wenger to think about – suitability rating: 7/10
Gervinho
Can play on either flank, but looks more comfortable on the left one I think. Looks out-of-form and not really a goal threat, which may worry Arsene, but the Ivorian is a tricky customer who can cause problems – suitability rating: 8/10
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
The obvious choice. If he’s not picked to play on the left wing then he should occupy Walcott’s position for the next three games. Is great going forward and not afraid to take on full-backs. His inexperience may play a part in Wenger’s decision-making, but I believe The Ox should be unleashed on Stoke, Norwich and West Brom – suitability rating: 9/10
Who do you guys think should fill in for Theo?
Give us your thoughts on the matter
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Chamnberlin is infact playing that wing(7) better than Walcott.
Walcotts 11 goals and 9 assists work out better stats wise than A. Young or Valencia or Mata. But do you hear their fans having a go at them every 5 minutes. NO. And IF Chamberlain had played better Walcott then he would be there all the time. But he isn’t.
So sick of ungrateful and impatient Arsenal fans. I bet last season you were also screaming for Rosicky to be sold!
Completely agree. Theo is a very dangerous winger and he will be missed. He doesn’t get anywhere near the credit he deserves. Ox will replace him but he is still learning- he is very young and has a way to go. It’s a pity Ryo is on loan.
NO. ROSICKY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PLAYERS. HOWEVER I AM SURE YOU WAS BEGGING FOR WALCOTT TO BE SUBSITUTED AT HALF-TIME IN THE SPURS GAME! AND NO DOUBT YOU WERE SAYING HOW GREAT HE WAS AT THE END OF THE GAME! HE IS ABSOLUTELY SHIT AND AS LONG AS HE IS IN THE ARSENAL TEAM WE WILL WIN NOTHING. DO YOU THINK THAT EITHER MAN UTD OR MAN CITY WOULD HAVE HIM IN THEIR TEAM?
No mate, unlike you I support the team- regardless of how they’re playing. Because I’M A FAN. I wasn’t spoilt by a couple of good seasons to the point where I believed that we should never fail. I’m a realist- not a moron.
I remember when we first started planning on the Emirates Stadium and AW said that because of the debt from that, it would be a while until we could compete in the transfer market. Unlike most armchair Arsenal fans- I remember the important facts. and I supported the team throughout.
Theo was bought during this transitional period and when he arrived he was made out to be the new Henry before he’d even kicked the ball. With all that expectation on his shoulders its no wonder he struggled to live up to peoples expectations, with spoilt and ungrateful supporter (like yourself) screaming at him instead of letting him develop properly.
Ashley Young wasn’t really given the credit he deserved until he was 25. Theo’s only 23. It is a well known fact that most players do not reach peak form until age 25-26 and that is made all the more harder when the fans who are supposed to be supporting them keep baying for their heads.
Idiots like you won’t realise what we’ve got till their gone.
Oh and MANCINI and FERGUSON have both MADE ENQUIRIES as to his availability during his contract wrangle.
TRY READING A PAPER ONCE IN A WHILE. AMAZINGLY THEY HAVE “NEWS” IN THEM!
ANYONE CAN MAKE ENQUIRES. HOWEVER I WOULD BET MONEY THAT MANCINI OR FERGUSON WOULD NOT HAVE THEO IN THEIR TEAM AS A REGULAR. YOU ARE THE IDIOT! THEO HAS BEEN AT ARSENAL FOR 6 SEASONS AND IS STILL SHIT! AOC HAS BEEN AT ARSENAL FOR ONE SEASON AND HE HAS ALL THE ATTRIBUTES YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A PREMIERSHIP PLAYER – AT 18 YEARS OF AGE.
NAME ANY PLAYER YOU WOULD ALLOW TO PLAY AT ARSENAL FOR 6 YEARS AND PRFORM SO BADLY.
HAVING BEEN AT ARSENAL FOR 6 SEASONS HIS CONTROL IS POOR, HE STILL CANNOT BEAT A DEFENDER ONE-ON-ONE( REGARDLESS WHETHER THEY ARE A WIGAN, WOLVES OR QPR DEFENDER}HIS PASSING IS POOR, HIS COSSES ARE POOR. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE REACHING THEIR PEAK, I AM TALKING ABOUT FUNDAMENTALS – WHICH ALL 18 YEAR OLDS HAVE AT ARSENAL – MORON! WHY DON’T YOU TRY READING FULL STOP!
Sorry but how long have you been a football manager?
Who are you to say that AW’s decision to keep playing Theo is wrong? How many footballing Titles, trophies and managerial awards have you won in your career??
…What’s that- NONE?! But you talk like you know everything! Surely that must mean that your full of shit and your opinion on the subject of THEO WALCOTT means nothing to anyone.
People like you will be straight on AOC’s back as soon as he shows the slightest dip in form.
And I’m done.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zahlkRUJQT8&feature=related
Watch the video, eat your words, shut the fuck up.
Play gerv in there he’s played well against chelsea and is in need of more game time and I for one don’t wanna see the ox play against physical teams like stoke !!!:) 🙂
why not sagna at the wing and jerkinson plays RB.
benayoun is preferable
In my view Walcott is the most underrated player in the arsenal team, he gets the team up the pitch in a matter of seconds although he does loose the ball on occasions, he truly is irreplaceable. Ox is the only player who is close to walcotts immense speed but still Walcott is the fastest player around there are not many who can stop him when he has got space in front of him. I think ox and gervinho will share the position for the rest of the season. We can’t overplay ox because we can’t have what happened to Wilshire happen to him, it’s the same with frimpong and coquilan
Ox over played? With three games left?
Yes- overplayed. Regardless of 3 games left, he has still played far more games than he should have since his transfer from Championship club Southampton. The EPL is a much tougher league and he needs time to adapt. When he first arrived he was like a breath of fresh air, then after a few games he started to become less effective and now he’s almost non existent. He needs time to develop or else people will get too high a hopes for him and then when he doesn’t fulfil expectations fans will be straight on his back. Same is obvious for Ramsey- Arrived with so much expectation, played well, got injured, now struggling to reach the same level of form as before. Walcott arrived with even higher expectations, dubbed the New Henry, Struggled to live up to the hype. Diaby, dubbed the new Viera, Badly injured on Debut after a strong start, Struggles with injuries.
FANS- CONTINUOUSLY ON THEIR BACKS. BERATING THEM IF THEY EVEN DARE STRUGGLE FOR FORM.
So yes, we need to give him a break to allow him to properly adapt and make sure we dont overplay him
Gervinho on the right, Benayoun/Santos on the left. We need to rest Ox as MUCH as possible at this stage in this stage of his career.
Why would we rest him he’s hardly played
This is in response to some else but it still fits-
Yes- overplayed. Regardless of 3 games left, he has still played far more games than he should have since his transfer from Championship club Southampton. The EPL is a much tougher league and he needs time to adapt. When he first arrived he was like a breath of fresh air, then after a few games he started to become less effective and now he’s almost non existent. He needs time to develop or else people will get too high a hopes for him and then when he doesn’t fulfil expectations fans will be straight on his back. Same is obvious for Ramsey- Arrived with so much expectation, played well, got injured, now struggling to reach the same level of form as before. Walcott arrived with even higher expectations, dubbed the New Henry, Struggled to live up to the hype. Diaby, dubbed the new Viera, Badly injured on Debut after a strong start, Struggles with injuries.
FANS- CONTINUOUSLY ON THEIR BACKS. BERATING THEM IF THEY EVEN DARE STRUGGLE FOR FORM.
So yes, we need to give him a break to allow him to properly adapt and make sure we dont overplay him
If anyone was watching arsenal from late december to end of january,one player covered the left and right flanks when our fullbacks were injured.he is more attacking than vermaelen and djourou,great defensivley and is far more skilful than the OX,Walcott and probably everyone besides RVP,Santos and Diaby.he is still only 20.amazing passing range and crossing as seen in the blackburn thrashing is part of his repetoire and he has come back from injury at the same time as Diaby.How can you consider Santos,Ramsey and Diaby as wingers and forget him? Im sure youve probably guessed it by now______Le Coq___!!!
The Bear agrees with Dom! One of the greatest mistakes Wenger makes is in not knowing how to rota his players so that they remain always sharp.
Gervinho and AoC were left on the bench far to LONG! Therefore they will need a few more games to perform at the level we see them in the past. Walcott, Song n RvP played to many matches.
What is the use of having a squad of 25, when you are playing just 15? 3 to 4 goal keepers when you play just one. Our problem is that we are not preparing well enough to challenge other teams.
That is not the players fault!
Hate the name as there is only one bear but have to agree wiv himwhy does wenger not use his squad. why have 78 players then play players out of position and rely on only 15-20 of them. its a complete waste of season ticket holders money.
I agree with Bc there is only 1 BEAR and that’s ME!