Premier League legend Matt Le Tissier has warned Theo Walcott that he may have to leave Arsenal if he is to succeed as a striker after the 26-year-0ld failed to impress for England in that role against Italy.
The pundit gave his views to talkSPORT.
Walcott has struggled to get into the Arsenal team since returning from injury and despite previously stating that he prefers a central role (via Mirror Football), the former Saints man may have finally accepted that Arsene Wenger doesn’t see him in that position.
However, even appearances on the wing have been hard to come by for Walcott with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez all ahead of him in the pecking order, Southampton legend Le Tissier has warned the forward that a move away from the club may be needed should he succeed as a top-level striker.
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“He could be a very useful centre-forward in a team that plays on the counter-attack,” Le Tissier told the radio station.
“Arsenal tend to dominate football matches, especially at home, and there isn’t always a lot of space in behind the back four.
“You saw last night, Italy didn’t allow too much space in behind and dropped fairly deep, and there was no room for Theo to manoeuvre.
“I do think he could be a centre-forward if he was in a different team.”
Le Tissier’s calls may actually come to fruition with Walcott yet to extend his contract at Arsenal which expires in just over 12 months (via Independent). His absence from the Gunners team could be as a result of that with the current situation mirroring that of his last contractual dispute where Walcott was also deprived of playing time.