Former Arsenal forward Kevin Campbell has accused Arsenal of failing to nurture the “world class” talent as Glenn Hoddle put it of Theo Walcott who has only seen 27 minutes of Premier League action this season.
The discussion came after Walcott had contributed to Arsenal’s demolition of BATE Borisov in their final dead rubber game in the Europa League group stage – in which they finished top. The 28-year-old scored as Arsenal blew away their opposition in a 6-0 trouncing at the Emirates, and as a result, the debate over his wasted potential once again came to the forefront of the pundits’ post-match analysis.
Having scored 19 goals last season the Englishman would presumably have hoped for more playing time this season, but Arsene Wenger has instead insisted with playing Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, Alex Iwobi or even Alexandre Lacazette out wide in place of Walcott.
Ever since he burst onto the scene as a hotly tipped 16-year-old wonder kid, the hype that has surrounded him has led to him never truly living up to the pedestal he was placed on at such a young age – falling in and out of form with both Arsenal and England during the past decade or so.
In my opinion, I think the club has let Theo Walcott down in a sense. When Walcott came into the football club fair enough there was fantastic players there, your Theirry Henry’s etc.
But he was still learning his trade. He still needs to be developed and have the tools for the toolbox. His talent hasn’t developed over the years. I think he has patches of play where he can be devastating, and everybody gets frustrated because they know how talented he is. I think he got 19 goals last season.
Hoddle then went on to add:
He’s got fantastic ability now and he had it when he was 20, what’s happened in them eight years that’s what I’m saying.
I’m saying from 20 to 28 we had an opportunity, this kid could have been world class, everyone would have known him, he would have been playing regularly for England.
He just needed to learn the game and he was developed too quickly.
There’s now a suggestion that Walcott should leave Arsenal in order to get more game time, with a possible move to Everton being touted.
