%20rotate(-8.06)%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22336.19%20136.81%20330.16%2094.25%20326.06%2071.19%20326.44%2071.13%20335.22%2093.54%20352.29%20134.52%20373.95%20131.46%20362.7%2052.01%20350.02%2053.8%20356.05%2096.36%20360.15%20119.42%20359.77%20119.48%20350.99%2097.08%20333.91%2056.09%20312.25%2059.15%20323.51%20138.6%20336.19%20136.81%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22402.91%2059.3%20412.36%20126.02%20427.17%20123.92%20417.72%2057.21%20431.59%2055.24%20429.79%2042.51%20387.23%2048.53%20389.04%2061.27%20402.91%2059.3%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22463.51%20118.77%20458.69%2084.71%20474.68%2082.44%20479.51%20116.5%20494.36%20114.4%20483.11%2034.95%20468.26%2037.06%20472.96%2070.25%20456.96%2072.52%20452.26%2039.32%20437.4%2041.43%20448.65%20120.88%20463.51%20118.77%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22540.5%20107.87%20538.77%2095.68%20518.91%2098.49%20515.77%2076.29%20535.63%2073.47%20533.93%2061.5%20514.07%2064.32%20511.11%2043.42%20530.98%2040.61%20529.25%2028.42%20494.53%2033.34%20505.78%20112.78%20540.5%20107.87%22%2F%3E%0A%20%20%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22cls-1%22%20points%3D%22299.03%20155.17%20301.29%20171.58%20542.78%20138.39%20540.5%20121.97%20299.03%20155.17%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E)
Theo Walcott’s New Contract May be the New Striker Deal Arsenal Need
By Josh Sippie
Theo Walcott appears to be inching ever closer to a new Arsenal contract following another goal against Wolfsburg to notch the Emirates Cup, the club’s first since 2010. Arsene Wenger desribed the contract as “very close” to being done, according to BBC Sport. This is good news for a multitude of reasons, mainly because it almost works like buying a new striker.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
I think I have written at least twenty articles covering why Arsenal need Karim Benzema. I continue to hold by that sentiment and hope that the rumored 35 million pound bid is accepted and we can have Benzema, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott leading the charge. That threesome is a winning, foolproof, impenetrable attack that has three different styles of play that all manage to overlap in one way or another. It will be a special combination.
But enough about Benzema (did I just say that?).
This may be the age of Theo Walcott. After spending so many years playing out wide despite his desires to play centrally, Theo Walcott has absolutely claimed the center forward position and left no room for question that it is his. Every time he starts up front, he scores. Sometimes not just one goal either. Sometimes he scores three.
Olivier Giroud is going to have his hands full in holding onto that central forward spot with Walcott quite literally nipping at his heels.
Walcott has already expressed his desire to stay at the club, telling reporters that this is a special club that he is a part of, via the Telegraph.
Committing himself to the future of Arsenal is actually a lot bigger than it seems. There has been a lot of speculation that he had planned on leaving the Gunners if the central forward role was not made available for him. Despite him maintaining his loyalty through it all, the rumors refused to desist.
More from Arsenal News
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
While we are still waiting for the pen to hit the paper, the deal appears to be a matter of hammering out the details, so for now lets just assume that it is done.
What this does is secures another striker for Arsenal for multiple years to come. Arsenal have been loading up on health and fitness coaches to keep the team fit, so Walcott’s injury proneness may dwindle in the coming years. Once you keep Walcott healthy, the rest is easy. Put him on the pitch and he scores.
Ideally, you still want a third legitimate striker option. Danny Welbeck and Chuba Akpom still have a lot to prove, but they could pan out. However, for now, we have two fantastic strikers in Giroud and Theo Walcott.
Next: Danny Welbeck Missing out on so much