Theo Walcott reportedly has no intention of leaving Arsenal, despite the fact that the club are interested in signing Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy.
The Gunners are understood to have triggered the £20m release clause in Vardy’s contract, but as the England international prepares for Euro 2016, a decision is unlikely to be reached on his future until after the tournament, as noted by The Guardian.
His arrival will naturally lead to increased competition for places at the Emirates, and with Walcott dropping to the bench already last season coupled with his England snub this summer, it looks as though his situation in north London is about to become even more difficult.
Nevertheless, as reported by ESPN FC, the 27-year-old plans to stay at Arsenal and fight for his place, as he looks to put a difficult period behind him and try to take his game to the next level and become a consistently important part of Arsene Wenger’s squad.
Given the similarities between his game and that of Vardy’s though, with their pace and ability to play up front or out on the wing, it doesn’t look positive for Walcott who managed just five Premier League goals last season compared to his potential rival’s 24.
Furthermore, with Alex Iwobi establishing himself as a key player for Arsenal last season, Walcott is seemingly only falling further down the pecking order, as his desire to play in a central role is likely to be ignored given his inability to score regularly.
There is an argument to suggest that the Gunners should consider offers for Walcott if the right bid comes in, as ultimately he’s had enough time to prove his ability at the club and become an indispensable member of the squad.
Having failed to do so, Wenger has to start considering big changes if he wishes to end the club’s wait for a Premier League title, and although he still has plenty of characteristics that make him a useful part of Arsenal’s plans, Walcott may well have to be content with a bit-part role moving forward.