Theo Walcott comes in from the cold as Wenger feels the heat

Arsenal star gets a chance to prove his worth to a manager who is desperate to halt club’s alarming loss of domestic and European form
James Olley6 November 2012

Theo Walcott has been an outcast this season with his Arsenal future uncertain but events have conspired to leave Arsene Wenger relying on the 23-year-old to help ensure their Champions League campaign does not take a perilous turn.

Walcott has been a peripheral presence ever since negotiations over a new contract broke down at the end of August. It is no coincidence that the England forward has not started a Champions League or Premier League match thereafter, whatever the Gunners’ manager argues to the contrary.

“It has nothing to do with it,” Wenger insisted here in Gelsenkirchen. “He has been sick and injured against San Marino and is just coming back. He has not been available.”

Walcott did indeed suffer a chest injury while on England duty against the European minnows but to explain away his omission in fitness terms alone is pure folly.

Left out prior to that injury, he only made the bench upon his return against Queens Park Rangers and a hat-trick against Reading in last week’s remarkable Capital One Cup success was not enough to earn a starting place against Manchester United.

Walcott’s last two starts have come in that competition and despite yielding five goals Wenger chose not to exploit Patrice Evra’s fallibility to pacey, direct wingers. Instead he opted for Aaron Ramsey, presumably based on the idea the Welshman would provide more defensive cover for Bacary Sagna.

Wenger’s myopia surely does not extend to his own team’s shortcomings. His unwillingness to play Walcott has roots in the player’s reluctance to commit his future to the club but needs must tonight.

Ramsey’s groin injury means he remains at London Colney alongside Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tomas Rosicky and Gervinho, leaving Wenger with little option than to relent on his hardline stance over Walcott.

Francis Coquelin or Andrey Arshavin could perhaps deputise but Walcott’s case to play is overwhelming, presuming he overcomes a rather mysterious illness described by Wenger last night as a “stomach problem”.

Apparently Walcott was sick overnight and therefore unable to train. Jokes circling that he vomited in response to Arsenal’s latest contract offer were wide of the mark but symptomatic of speculation surrounding an uneasy relationship between player and manager. Standard Sport revealed in August that Walcott wants to play as a centre-forward but the situation is more complicated than that one demands. His camp believe the £75,000-a-week deal on the table is insufficient for someone of his notoriety while there are also concerns about the direction the club are headed after several high-profile departures.

How ironic it is, then, that Wenger should have to call on a player harbouring such doubts to prevent a domestic decline spreading into Europe.

“You do not want to base contract negotiations on one game,” said Wenger. “I believe that we know Theo well — you know my feeling about him.I think what is most important is that we get our game back.

“Our game is about creating chances, about going forward and about having an offensive drive.

“That at the moment is a bit missing so is the most important thing. I believe I have a team of great players and at the moment they have forgotten a little bit how good they are.

“What is most important is that we play again with our enthusiasm, desire to create chances and enjoy our game, more than worrying about do we concede a goal or not.”

Walcott’s ability has often been questioned but for all his inconsistencies, he remains capable of delivering the “offensive drive” Wenger speaks of.

This Arsenal team lack pace but Walcott has it in abundance. He is also a clinical finisher, something the Gunners have been crying out for with Robin van Persie departed and Olivier Giroud misfiring.

It would be inaccurate to suggest Walcott is playing for his future tonight given his situation is more complex but it would serve as a timely reminder of his talents to a beleaguered Arsenal board were he to make a decisive contribution. Quite what his team-mates make of the recent malaise is uncertain. Walcott has always spoken in glowing terms of Sagna’s abilities behind him at right-back but the Frenchman was not equally effusive in returning the compliment.

“You have to communicate as much as possible,” he said, when asked to talk about his relationship with Walcott. “To me, it is the same to play with Theo as other players.

“It is to put him in the best position and help him as much as I can.”

The Gunners are under pressure to prove they are capable of retaining their leading players and although Walcott divides opinion when assessing his overall worth, another high-profile departure would further darken the skies above Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal’s Group B qualification was complicated by a 2-0 reverse to Schalke a fortnight ago.

They have lost eight of their past 13 away games in the competition and have won only three of 11 matches on German soil.

Winter is yet to arrive yet discontent is growing. Walcott may have a more prominent part to play in reversing that momentum than he expected.

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