Amidst a rash of Arsenal injuries, Theo Walcott has arisen and could be set to return to first-team action for this Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Hull City.
It’s been more than nine months since the speedy winger last graced the pitch at the Emirates, hard time for recovery from a cruciate ligament injury. But, according to his assessment of progress from rigorous strengthening work, the extended rehabilitation has left the 25-year-old quicker than before.
A scary thought, no doubt, considering in 2009 Walcott clocked in at 4.42 for a 40 meter dash (on grass). That pace is something that the Blackburn U-21s will have to deal with Friday night when Walcott gets a brief run out, a warm-up match to prove his fitness for the next day’s visit from Hull City.
Also having overcome long-term knee trouble, Serge Gnabry is set to join Walcott on the first team sheet while nine others - Tomas Rosicky, David Ospina, Danny Welbeck, Mesut Ozil, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Yaya Sanogo, Matheiu Debuchy and Olivier Giroud - all remain on the trainer’s table with injury.
Before suffering the knee injury in last January’s 2-0 win over Spurs, Walcott featured in 18 matches for Arsenal scoring 6 goals and registering 7 assists.