Arsenal: Chuba Akpom Must Start Over Walcott

Arsenal are looking at a rather morbid possibility of having no extra strikers brought into the picture this summer. If so, Chuba Akpom must come before Walcott.

Arsenal are going down a dark road where another striker may not be realistic. Arsene Wenger is just not enthralled with any strikers available and it’s likely because of the excessive price tags that typify the modern day striker market.

While Alexandre Lacazette is still out there and Gonzalo Higuain is inexplicably still making headlines, we need to start considering what internal options we have. Luckily, it’s not much to consider because there just isn’t much there.

With Olivier Giroud set to return August 1st, it comes down to Chuba Akpom or Theo Walcott. One of the two will be Arsenal’s opening day starters, barring any drastic signings or last minute snatches.

Yesterday, I covered why giving Akpom this ‘Baptism by Fire‘ would be beneficial to just about everyone, but today I’d like to revisit that thought and add another angle – the angle that Akpom is a better option to start up front for Arsenal than Theo Walcott. Although I must admit, I cannot believe that I am actually talking about Akpom or Walcott to start on opening day.

Anyways, in terms of Akpom starting, my reasoning is simple, but it has multiple parts. First of all, Walcott had his chance. Akpom hasn’t. Walcott looked like a fool at times leading the line for Arsenal. Other times you wouldn’t even know he was on the pitch. He had a tendency to drift wide right or disappear among the giants in the box.

That’s because Arsenal typically play tight to the opposing goal area. While many Arsenal supporters were shot down because of their claim that Vardy only plays over the top, saying the same about Walcott is absolutely true. If he isn’t given a straight lane to the goal, he probably isn’t scoring.

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Akpom, however, is a Danny Welbeck type. He has strength and speed and given that he has been with Arsenal since he was six years old, there is a bit of added motivation to do well for the team that raised him.

Not only that has Akpom not really had his chance, but, as I touched on yesterday, it’s sink or swim time. We have to see what he can do and stop babying him.

I, like you, was not impressed with his Hull City loan, but not every loan is going to be perfect. different styles fit different players and, for what it’s worth, he did score a hat trick and help secure promotion to the Premier League.

Walcott is going to be given yet another chance, but it has to be out wide. Arsenal gains nothing by letting him tramp about in the box, when no one in their right mind would pass him the ball.

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Give the reigns to Akpom and let him do what Iwobi did last year. Talent doesn’t just disappear.

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