%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)
Arsenal: Theo Walcott Better Be Ready To Return Fire
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal witnessed an offensive masterclass against West Ham, but one man was conspicuously missing. Theo Walcott better be ready to step up.
Arsenal laid a beat down on West Ham and reaffirmed that to count them out of the title race is a fool’s endeavor. The big three of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were absolutely on point, as if they’ve been doing this their whole lives.
Related: Wenger’s Best Ever Starting XI
Combined, these three accounted for everything. Five goals and three assists between the three of them, and there is much more than that. They created 13 chances and had eight shots on goal together as well. That is the type of trio performance that can match any front three out there.
And then there was Theo Walcott. Rightfully removed before the fun really started, Walcott didn’t have the best day. Dare I say he even looked slow. His shots were a split second too late and his attempts to create didn’t come off.
He didn’t create a single chance or a single shot on target (although he did lead the team in aerial duels on…?). He touched the ball half as much as any of the other big three offensive players.
It was not a good day for Theo in an offensive performance that had room for everyone.
But that’s okay. This is how things are supposed to happen. Now that the line has been drawn by the Ox, it is Theo’s turn to respond and fire back. I can be overly harsh on Walcott, but it’s true, we have seen him do things this year that he hasn’t done for awhile.
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
Namely, he has created chances for himself and looked like a functioning member of this offense.
He is going to have to find that again, and soon, if he wants to have a fighting shot at consistent playing time with the Ox bombarding around the pitch.
It is going to be extra curious to see what happens when Olivier Giroud comes back, because that’s when Wenger has a choice to make. Clearly Alexis can be just fine up top and the Ox out wide is gaining luster.
It’s very possible that Walcott gets dropped to make room for Giroud, and the former has to be made aware of that.
Next: Arsenal's 30 Greatest Players Ever
This is fun. November is over, let’s get back to having a good time with this offense.