Arsenal: Sanchez Injury Provides Walcott With Great Opportunity

Arsenal’s yearly injury crisis has hit home early with Alexis Sanchez the latest forward likely to miss the start of the season. It’s time for Theo Walcott to step up to the plate.

It wouldn’t be a normal Arsenal season without some form of injury crisis. I can’t remember the last season when Arsene Wenger did not have to heavily rely on relative unknown youngsters to supplement his squad due to long term injuries to some key players.

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Many players who were seen as the shining light of Arsenal’s future have had their development delayed due to a series of injuries. Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have never been able to rack up consistent game time due to continual fitness concerns.

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Now, however, Arsenal may well have to rely on the most injury prone player in the squad to step up to the plate in the absence of many injured stars. With Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil and now Alexis Sanchez all set to miss the start of the season due to their international exertions in the Eurpean Championships and Copa America, Arsenal will have to turn to other options to set up to the plate. That man could well be Theo Walcott.

Although Sanchez’s injury report has not yet been confirmed, the pictures are rather worrying and he is known to push his body far beyond the limit with the result of longer term problems. If that is the case, Arsenal’s front three could well be Theo Walcott, Alex Oxalde-Chamberlain and Chuba Akpom.

Walcott would be the most experienced of these and will need to up his game if Arsenal are to beat a good Liverpool side rejuvenated under Jurgen Klopp on the opening day of the season. Sanchez’s injury is a major blow, only compounded by the other absentees. However, injuries provide opportunities, and this is Walcott’s opportunity to prove that he has developed into the player that was expected of him when he first signed a decade ago.

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It is certainly worrying that Arsenal are depending on Walcott as their main attacking threat. While he has ability, he is not ready to be the main man. Unfortunately, that may not matter come August, and whether he likes it or not, Theo needs to turn up.