Theo Walcott has made an interesting confession about Bukayo Saka's current campaign. The Arsenal legend admits the England winger has had an "indifferent season" so far, though he's still confident Saka will come good when the Gunners need him most.
Saka was substituted after just an hour during Arsenal's Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday. He's currently sitting on just nine goals across all competitions this term, which is a bit concerning for someone who signed a massive contract extension worth over £300,000 a week. Ironically, his replacement Noni Madueke won the late penalty that bailed Arsenal out.
But Walcott isn't worried. "I think he's been actually a little bit indifferent this year, but you can see signs of him picking up at the right time now," the former Gunners striker explained. "You'd like to think the most important players shine when it really matters but we also forget how young he still is and how much he's achieved already."
The Arsenal icon reckons the competition from Madueke is actually helping Saka raise his game. "Madueke has actually helped with that, I think he's pushing Bukayo and he's needed that," Walcott added. For punters keeping an eye on Arsenal's title chances, having Saka return to top form at the business end of the season could be crucial.
Can This Arsenal Team Match the Invincibles?
Walcott, who banged in 108 goals during his 397 Arsenal appearances, had some bold claims about the current squad. He believes this team is actually better overall than the legendary Invincibles side. However, he admits it's tough to compare eras given how much football has changed.
The real kicker? Walcott says if Mikel Arteta can pull off the Quadruple this season, he'd rank him alongside Arsene Wenger as the face of Arsenal. "If this team wins the Quadruple, I would start looking at Arteta as 'Arsenal,' and I used to always think of Wenger as Arsenal," he revealed. That's massive praise considering how highly he rates the Frenchman.
For anyone betting on Arsenal to go all the way this season, Walcott's comments suggest the squad has the depth and quality needed. The competition is fierce though, and they'll need Saka firing on all cylinders to land silverware. The fact that players like Madueke are pushing established stars could be exactly what Arsenal need for a strong finish.
Walcott is currently preparing for Soccer Aid's 20th anniversary match on May 31st at the London Stadium, where he'll represent England against a World XI. The event is aiming to smash its £121 million donations record for UNICEF.
