Arsenal Handed Cruel Injury Blow As Walcott Ruled Out For 6 Months

Arsenal have been dealt a cruel injury blow with the news that Theo Walcott has been ruled out for at least six months with a knee injury.

The winger was forced off during the final stages of Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup win over rivals Tottenham at the Emirates after appearing to catch his studs in the turf as he chased a loose ball.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had initially hoped Walcott had only stretched his ligament which would only keep him out for four weeks.

However, following scans the club have now released a statement on Arsenal.com confirming the injury was far worse than first thought and the 24-year-old will now miss the rest of the season after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

“After coming off injured in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, the Club regrettably announces that Theo Walcott has sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee.

Theo will have surgery in London in the near future and is expected to be out for at least six months, therefore missing the remainder of the season and the World Cup in Brazil in the summer.

Everyone at Arsenal wishes Theo a speedy recovery and we look forward to seeing him back on a football pitch as soon as possible.”

The news comes as a bitter blow to our title hopes. We are heading into the second half of the season top of the league and in with a real chance of lifting the Premier League. However, the loss of Walcott is a major set-back, make no mistake.

However, you’ve really got to feel for Theo as well. He was looking to go to the Brazil World Cup in peak condition and has been in excellent form in recent weeks. But the injury is going to keep him out for at least six months meaning he’ll now have to wait until he’s at least 29 before featuring at a World Cup, despite being selected in his first England squad at the age of 17.

Focus will now turn to Arsene Wenger to see if he will dip into the market to buy a replacement. Many felt we needed at least a striker BEFORE Walcott and Bendtner got injured so you’d have to hope the boss will bring in at least one attacker this month.

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