Theo Walcott Injury Update: Arsenal Star Provides Recovery Boost

Theo Walcott has provided Arsenal fans with a boost ahead of the new season by returning to training for the first time since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at the beginning of January. The England forward was forced to miss the rest of the season, including Arsenal’s FA Cup win, as well as this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

An initial estimate of six months out appears to have been accurate, with teammate Jack Wilshere posting a picture of he and Walcott at training on Thursday.

Theo Walcott has provided Arsenal fans with a boost ahead of the new season by returning to training for the first time since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee at the beginning of January. The England forward was forced to miss the rest of the season, including Arsenal’s FA Cup win, as well as this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

An initial estimate of six months out appears to have been accurate, with teammate Jack Wilshere posting a picture of he and Walcott at training on Thursday.

After such a serious injury, it could still be some time before Walcott is back in action. Speaking earlier this week, the 25-year-old refused to put a precise timeline on his first-team return.

The knee is going really well, I am doing some good stuff with the physios and fitness coaches and we have worked really hard throughout the summer,” he told Arsenal’s official website. “Things are looking really good and I have worked very hard for the last five months now.

“The most important thing is getting the strength back and it has pretty much nearly healed -- it is just about building up that stability and strength again. It is coming along nicely and I am really pleased.”

The Premier League season is now just under a month away, while the traditional season curtain-raiser, the Community Shield, which this year will feature Arsenal taking on Manchester City, takes place on Aug. 10 at Wembley. Manager Arsene Wenger has now returned from World Cup media duties, but has already wrapped up one big-name signing, with Alexis Sánchez arriving from Barcelona. And Walcott believes that the pace of both he and the Chile international could pose teams a major threat this season.

“Sánchez is a world-class player and I enjoyed watching him play for Barcelona and for Chile at the World Cup,” he added.

“He’s still very young as well and he is going to show so much pace and power, which we lacked a bit last year. With me and him on the flanks, a lot of teams won’t be looking forward to playing Arsenal this year!”

The £30 million capture of Sanchez is the second biggest incoming transfer in the club’s history, following on from Mesut Özil joining from Real Madrid for £42.5 million a year ago. And, after several years of Arsenal’s circumspect transfer dealings centered around more modest targets, Walcott is excited about the recent arrivals of ready-made stars.

“There’s a great buzz around the club at the moment. He is a marquee signing and something that the club has pushed on to: first you had Mesut Özil and now it is Alexis Sánchez. Who knows where it is going to stop?

“It is great to learn from these players, and I cannot wait to play alongside him. I am really looking forward to it.”

After such a serious injury, it could still be some time before Walcott is back in action. Speaking earlier this week, the 25-year-old refused to put a precise timeline on his first-team return.

The knee is going really well, I am doing some good stuff with the physios and fitness coaches and we have worked really hard throughout the summer,” he told Arsenal’s official website. “Things are looking really good and I have worked very hard for the last five months now.

“The most important thing is getting the strength back and it has pretty much nearly healed -- it is just about building up that stability and strength again. It is coming along nicely and I am really pleased.”

The Premier League season is now just under a month away, while the traditional season curtain-raiser, the Community Shield, which this year will feature Arsenal taking on Manchester City, takes place on Aug. 10 at Wembley. Manager Arsene Wenger has now returned from World Cup media duties, but has already wrapped up one big-name signing, with Alexis Sánchez arriving from Barcelona. And Walcott believes that the pace of both he and the Chile international could pose teams a major threat this season.

“Sánchez is a world-class player and I enjoyed watching him play for Barcelona and for Chile at the World Cup,” he added.

“He’s still very young as well and he is going to show so much pace and power, which we lacked a bit last year. With me and him on the flanks, a lot of teams won’t be looking forward to playing Arsenal this year!”

The £30 million capture of Sanchez is the second biggest incoming transfer in the club’s history, following on from Mesut Özil joining from Real Madrid for £42.5 million a year ago. And, after several years of Arsenal’s circumspect transfer dealings centered around more modest targets, Walcott is excited about the recent arrivals of ready-made stars.

“There’s a great buzz around the club at the moment. He is a marquee signing and something that the club has pushed on to: first you had Mesut Özil and now it is Alexis Sánchez. Who knows where it is going to stop?

“It is great to learn from these players, and I cannot wait to play alongside him. I am really looking forward to it.”