Arsenal’s 26 year old forward could get to have yet another career defining moment against Chelsea as the Gunners prepare to take on the Premier League leaders. Being on the bench against the Blues could lean the balance in favor of a summer exit from Walcott who, 9 years back scored his first goal for the North Londoners. Even though Arsenal lost that final, a young, brilliant player emerged. Unfortunately things did not turn out as expected and injuries robbed the winger of a glorious career. After almost a decade, he is still not a team regular and struggles to find his place. Health problems have interrupted his rise several times, making people see the Englishman as a true gamble.

Even though the talent is there, his injury prone physique makes it hard for the club to invest and increase the player’s salary. Rumors have it that he will not be given the raise he requested and that a decision regarding his future will be made after the FA Cup Final. It is still the Chelsea match The Guardian feels will be the key moment of the season. It will be indeed a game that will jog his memory and make him think about what he managed to achieve in almost a decade spent in London. Regardless of all the difficult moments the 26 year old went through and regardless of his way of handling his expiring contract, he still remains a Gunner. Unfortunately, sometimes a change is needed and it feels like that moment is just around the corner for Walcott. He has one year left of contract and if he will not agree to terms with the club, fans might not be seeing him around in August when the Premier League kicks off but somehow I think he will sta in England as another country and the culture looks like something Walcott does not fancy right now with a young family and as a newlywed.