Arsenal: Theo Walcott Return Can Be Huge Instigator

Theo Walcott is returning to the Arsenal squad for Saturday’s trip to Southampton. His reintroduction can be a huge instigator for the remainder of the year.

The early season blistering form of Arsenal seems like a distant memory. Although results have been kind during and since the festive period – four wins and a draw in five league games – the performances have not matched the victories.

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With Arsene Wenger reinstating Olivier Giroud as the starting centre-forward, shifting Alexis Sanchez out to left-hand side, the side has lacked the same dynamism and fluidity in the final third, often looking a little mechanical, clunky almost toothless in and around the opponent’s penalty box.

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With a trip to Stamford Bridge on the horizon, as well as key visits to White Hart Lane and Anfield still to come, Arsenal cannot rely on miraculous, late finishes to bail them out of underwhelming displays. The Gunners need a little reinvigoration. Thankfully, the perfect man to provide such a spark has just returned to training.

Theo Walcott has been absent for the best part of a month due to an ailing calf injury that was anticipated by few. In fact, Theo was a surprise omission from the Boxing Day squad against West Brom and, in his post-match press conference, Wenger stated that he hoped Walcott would return as soon as the New Year tie with Crystal Palace. It was only this week that the electric winger was reintroduced to full training.

Wenger confirmed in his press conference leading up to Saturday’s fourth round FA Cup tie with Southampton that Walcott would be in the first team squad – though it would be a surprise to see him start – and his return is important both for Arsenal’s short and long-term prospects. The trip to Stamford Bridge in just over a week’s time will go a long way to determining whether Wenger’s men can make the title race competitive in the closing stages.

Walcott brings a verve on the right-hand side that has been missing in his absence. Alex Iwobi has been trialled out there, as has Lucas Perez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. All have shown, in glimpses, that they can provide an attacking threat but they lack the consistency to ever match the danger that Walcott offered earlier in the season.

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As Wenger looks to re-find the form from September and October, in which he watched his dismantle Chelsea with a devastating first-half display, turning to Theo, in his time of need, could well give the squad the instigation and the invigoration that it needs.