Arsenal star Theo Walcott’s involvement in the upcoming league game against Manchester United is in doubt as Walcott and his wife Melanie Slade are expecting their second baby anytime now. The Gunners travel to Old Trafford to take on Jose Mourinho’s side this Saturday and it will be a blow for Arsenal if they have to do without the services of the England international.
Walcott has been in fine from this season making an impressive start to the campaign. The 27-year-old has already registered 5 goals and two assists in 10 league games for the North London club.
Walcott was part of the England squad for the games against Scotland and Spain and manager Gareth Southgate said that he would have left the squad anytime. “Theo Walcott might have to disappear at any time as his wife is expecting so we are conscious of that,” Southgate said while speaking to the press ahead of England’s game against Scotland.
Walcott and Melanie have been together since 2004 when they met in Southampton’s famous WestQuay shopping centre. The couple got married at the Castello di Vincigliata, near Florence in June 2013 and Melanie, who is a physiotherapist by profession, gave birth to their first child, Finley James Walcott, on April 10, 2014.
If Walcott misses Arsenal‘s crunch clash against rivals Manchester United, he will not be the only major absentee for The Gunners. Midfielder Santi Cazorla is still sidelined as he is recovering from the Achilles injury suffered during Arsenal’s 6-0 thumping of Bulgarian side, Ludogorets in the UEFA Champions League and right-back Hector Bellerin will also miss the game after he sustained an ankle injury.
Chilean international Alexis Sanchez is also a doubt for the game as the 27-year-old has experienced some discomfort on his hamstring regardless of which, he started for Chile in their 3-1 win against Uruguay. His fitness will be assessed by the Arsenal medical staff and Gunners fans will be hoping that their talisman will start against United.
In the red half of Manchester, manager Jose Mourinho is facing an even bigger crisis. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is suspended and the defensive trio of Eric Bailly, Antonio Valencia and Chris Smalling are out injured. Wayne Rooney will be fit enough to start but midfielder Marouane Fellaini is likely to not feature in the game.
Arsene Wenger’s side haven’t won at Old Trafford for over 10 years now and the Frenchman is yet to defeat Jose Mourinho in a Premier League game. The stage is set for one of the most anticipated games of the Premier League season and the encounter is a must-win game for both sides.
