Theo Walcott names Arsenal’s ‘big problem’ in Premier League title race | Football

Theo Walcott says Manchester City represent a ‘big problem’ within the Premier League title race and are greater than able to ‘hunting down’ Arsenal over the approaching weeks and months.

Walcott’s former side Arsenal went six points clear at the highest of the table with a comprehensive, Eberechi Eze-inspired victory over bitter rivals Tottenham last month.

However the Gunners have suffered a mini-wobble within the absence of their first-choice centre-back pairing, Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, and their advantage over second-placed Manchester City has since narrowed to only two points.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa, who sit third, have hit their stride heading into the Christmas period, meanwhile, winning their last six games in the highest flight.

The club’s excellent run included a press release 2-1 victory over the leaders earlier this month, wherein Emiliano Buendia struck within the fifth minute of stoppage time to take the roof off Villa Park.

Mikel Arteta’s men – who survived a late scare versus relegation-threatened Wolves last trip – will hope to reassert themselves again after they return to motion away to Everton this weekend.

‘It just shows that the competition and the weather of how this league works are so fascinating because you’ll be able to’t call any game really. You actually can’t,’ ex-Arsenal star Walcott said of the side’s nervy win over Wolves on It’s Called Soccer.

‘When a team has a brand new manager they usually get desperate in a way, ultimately, you might have to get together as a team and say, “Look, we’ve got nothing to lose on this game, let’s just really work for one another.”

‘I believe the pressure of playing away from home probably helps these teams which are in a relegation fight as well. I believe the pressure of the fans can really take its toll on some guys.

‘I used to be a component of that at Southampton where you’re in a relegation battle, sometimes it isn’t nice playing at home.’

Arsenal have finished as runners-up in each of the last three seasons within the English top flight, twice second-best to Manchester City before they were beaten to the trophy by Liverpool last term.

But based on Walcott, Arteta’s side are starting to get the type of ‘luck’ that eventual champions are likely to experience in title-winning campaigns.

‘It shows, for me, that Arsenal are getting that luck that every one champions get in time. It’s happening every week, it’s happening continually now,’ he added.

‘At Arsenal, hastily, something is developing and it’s just that positive energy and I believe that helps.’

Arteta may very well be forgiven for taking the occasional look behind his shoulder on the chasing pack, with Arsenal’s lead at the highest slashed to only two points after 16 games.

Since suffering defeat at Newcastle, there have been signs that Manchester City may very well be on the way in which back to their best – and Walcott believes Pep Guardiola’s side are starting to look fairly scary.

‘They’re an issue. They’re a giant problem for me,’ Walcott explained.

‘City would worry me more [than Villa] because they’ve been there in this case before, they’ve hunted Arsenal down quite frankly and in time they may grind them down and it should just occur.

‘They worry me more, nevertheless, Villa have an incredible manager who might be recognising that he’s got a possibility to create history.

‘Ollie Watkins isn’t actually playing well and when he plays well and starts scoring, that’s going to be one other problem.

‘But Manchester City on this time, yes, they’re scoring goals but not playing well in certain moments. I still feel like there’s a variety of gears to go up there.’

Walcott is satisfied that Arsenal have been capable of ‘recognise’ and ‘handle’ the pressure up until this point, but he fears this might change if City proceed to breathe down their necks heading into the business end of the season.

The previous England attacker went on: ‘Obviously Pep saying about Phil Foden, not completely happy in the way in which he played and never trusting themselves and he was anxious on the ball rather a lot and he needs to enhance and this and that…. that just says to me that his standards are so high that it’s worthwhile to be perfect.

‘I believe he recognises that they’re not perfect but they’re still hunting Arsenal they usually are a giant problem for me.

‘As well, Pep is wise because, international breaks, he’ll be having words together with his players and saying, “You ensure that you get in those Arsenal ears, you ensure that you get in those Villa ears, distract them from something, do the whole lot you’ll be able to to win that battle whenever you’re with them and don’t show any weakness in any respect”, March, that’s where all of it type of develops within the league.

‘However it’s a giant worry for me, it truly is. I hate it. I’m an Arsenal man so imagine just me by myself, but we’re talking in regards to the Arsenal globe of fans worrying and that’s just going to seep more pressure on.

‘Can this team recognise that pressure and might they really handle it? They’re in the intervening time.’

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