Matt Le Tissier believes Theo Walcott should be looking for an Arsenal exit due to his lack of game time (via the Daily Star), and Alex Iwobi’s Man of the Match performance against Everton may well have proved the former Southampton man right.
“If I was Theo at 27 years of age and I wasn’t getting regular football even though I was fit, I think it would be crossing my mind to find pastures new,” he said.
Walcott really hasn’t progressed the way many would have hoped, and the England international deservedly finds himself benched at the moment. He’s always seen himself as a striker, but Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck have made sure his chances up-front are few and far between. But even in the wide areas he’s struggling now, with the likes of Alex Iwobi and Joel Campbell keeping him out of the side.
The pacy forward has shown glimpses of real quality during his time at Arsenal, and admittedly when he’s on form he is practically unplayable. Nobody can compete with his pace, and when at his best we’ve seen him decimate teams. He’s rarely anywhere near his best though, and too often he’s been completely ineffective for Arsenal.
Arsene Wenger will obviously be keen to keep Walcott at the club, as he’ll be desperate to see the player he signed as a teenager realise the massive potential he once showed. If Walcott wants regular first team football he may have to make a switch away from north London though, something Le Tissier certainly believes.
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Arsenal fans have grown tired of Walcott’s failure to produce, and many would be pleased to see the back of him. He’d need to be adequately replaced though, which will certainly be a fear given Wenger’s track record in the transfer market.
Certainly, things look set to get worse before they get better for Walcott, following Iwobi’s big performance against Barcelona and his excellent goalscoring display against Everton on Saturday.
With the youngster immediately looking like a goal threat from out wide-something that can’t always be said about the England international-it’s hard to see Walcott getting more playing time in the first team any time soon.