Arsenal in tricky call over Walcott
Theo Walcott's cameo appearance for Arsenal against Manchester United on Sunday was a demonstration of what he can add to the side – devastating pace and a fine delivery – as his cross deflected off defender Tyler Blackett for the equaliser. When he is on form, you wonder how he is ever benched.
However, Arsenal have done just fine without him for most of this season and last, and his days at the Emirates Stadium could be nearing an end.
For a start, he has played just 21 of a possible 76 league games in the last two seasons, through injury. And with his contract up at the end of next season – talks with Arsenal on a renewal have stalled – you have to ask the question: do Arsenal need Walcott as much as he needs them?
It is hard to see a fully-fit Walcott starting regularly for Arsenal next season, given the form of the club’s forward players. He is an excellent impact substitute who can change a game, especially when you are taking on tired defences with the kind of pace he possesses.
But Walcott has played more than 30 games twice in the last eight league seasons and scored in double figures once.
In that context, when it comes to new contracts, maybe Walcott should forget about pay rises and be happy to be at a club where he has a place in the squad system and his injury history is tolerated.
From Arsenal’s point of view though, can they justify extending the contract of a player who has played only 28 per cent of games in the last two seasons?
Mane man
Sadio Mane's record-breaking hat-trick on Saturday for Southampton took the Senegalese forward into double-figure goals (10) for the season, joining fellow summer arrival Graziano Pelle (12). It emphasises how well the club did in the summer transfer market.
Southampton sold £88 million (Dh506.8m) worth of talent in Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Calum Chambers and Dejan Lovren, but none of those players have been a hit at their new clubs.
Southampton spent £67m in the summer and January and, of those arrivals, only Romanian centre-back Florin Gardos has been a miss.
Fraser Forster is now established as a contender for England’s No 1 slot, Mane and Pelle scored goals, Dusan Tadic was excellent at least in the first half of the season, Ryan Bertrand is a contender for England’s left-back slot, and Shane Long was a savvy, if expensive, back-up for Pelle.
Southampton’s dealing is in stark contrast to the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United. If they get it right again, expect them to get even closer to a top four spot.
Relegation
The statistics say Hull City are going down. Mathematically, they can stay up if they beat Manchester United on Sunday and either Newcastle United fail to win at home to West Ham United or Sunderland, having lost at Arsenal tomorrow, lose at Chelsea.
But here are three numbers that count against them:
0 – They have won zero points in the Premier League in the month of May.
5 – They have taken just five points from 42 off teams in the top seven this season.
1952 – The last time they took even a point off Manchester United.
twoods@thenational.ae
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