Arsène Wenger admits he does not know what the future holds for Theo Walcott with the England forward currently a bit-part player at the Emirates Stadium.
Walcott has not started a Premier League game since the 3-2 defeat at Manchester United on 28 February and has been limited to substitute appearances of late. He has fallen behind the teenager Alex Iwobi and a fit-again Danny Welbeck in the pecking order, with just five league goals this season.
With his place in Roy Hodgson’s squad for this summer’s European Championship in the balance, Wenger conceded he is unsure where Walcott will be plying his trade next season. Asked if Walcott could leave, Wenger replied: “I don’t know yet.
“I’m not in transfer mode at the moment but I think he has gone through a bad spell. He has responded very well, because he said: ‘OK, I will work harder and more.’ When he comes on now, you see he is motivated and focused. Let’s see how well he finishes the season.”
Despite a number of first-team regulars missing Thursday night’s 2-0 win over West Brom, Walcott was again restricted to a four-minute cameo off the bench. Wenger admits Walcott, as well as other players not featuring regularly, are frustrated at their lack of game time. “Of course. Tonight you have seen the team,” he said when asked if he could understand Walcott’s frustration at not playing much.
“You have the emergence of a guy like Iwobi. But the players that did not play [against West Brom]: Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and I forget a few that weren’t even in the squad. All these players will be frustrated, or the guys who go out will be frustrated. Welbeck didn’t play, Campbell didn’t play.”