The form of young Spaniard Hector Bellerin over the past year has certainly been a major boost for Arsenal. The right back has demonstrated his capabilities in both defence as well as an attacking threat, to make the position his own, as recent departure Mathieu Debuchy knows only too well.
However, perhaps the one negative to come from this situation is the lack of playing time for Theo Walcott, who has struggled for prolonged consistency throughout his Gunners career.
Manager Arsene Wenger seemingly has little trust in the right sided combination of Bellerin and Walcott, with the likes of Joel Campbell, Aaron Ramsay and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all being preferred to the Englishman throughout this campaign. So Walcott now faces the unenviable task of displacing star men in Alexis Sanchez or Olivier Giroud for the two remaining attacking positions.
Having generally been used as an impact substitute in the majority of Premier League fixtures this season, it is proving to be yet another frustrating time for Walcott, who still at the age of just 26, ought to be entering the prime of his career.
With his best season coming back in 13/14 when he scored a total of 14 goals and provided 10 assists before an injury derailed his progress, Walcott is seemingly at a crossroads in his career, with transfer rumours surfacing linking him with a move away from the Emirates.
As for Arsenal, they will be hoping to get their title challenge back on track this coming weekend. Having gained a hard earned point in the North London derby last weekend, they next face a home tie against West Bromich Albion.
With a hectic schedule coming up over the next few weeks, including trips to Barcelona and Everton, Wenger may well use this opportunity to give the likes of Walcott some much needed game time. Based on their recent form this is certainly not an easy match for the Gunners, especially with the Midlands side coming into the fixture of the back of a victory against Manchester United.
Bell Internet offer the latest Premier League odds, and with time running out, it is looking likely that it will be another season of disappointment for Arsene Wenger’s side, as they find themselves behind Leicester City and rivals Tottenham in the pecking order.
Despite Walcott signing a new contract which made him the highest paid member of the Arsenal squad, this has by no means cemented his place as a regular starter.
Walcott must now look to add more strings to his bow, to work alongside his major asset of raw speed, in the same way as his England team mate Raheem Sterling has demonstrated. The former Southampton youngster is now in serious danger of being left behind by this evolving Arsenal team.
