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Theo Walcott Arsenal
Theo Walcott, left, made his first appearance for Arsenal in the 3-0 defeat of Burnley since suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in January. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images
Theo Walcott, left, made his first appearance for Arsenal in the 3-0 defeat of Burnley since suffering a cruciate knee ligament injury in January. Photograph: Glyn Kirk/AFP/Getty Images

Theo Walcott return against Burnley gives Arsenal problem of balance

This article is more than 9 years old
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Arsène Wenger suggested he faced a problem. It is a nice problem to have, as any manager would say, but it is a problem nonetheless. Even Wenger can fit only four or five attack-minded players in his starting line-up and a glance at his Arsenal squad list reveals he has 15 of them.

The levels were increased when he signed Alexis Sánchez and Danny Welbeck in the summer – the former was Burnley’s destroyer on Saturday – and Wenger also chose to keep the Costa Rica striker, Joel Campbell, at the club rather than loan him out again. The number includes a clutch of midfielders who are naturally inclined to attack – Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby.

Injuries have kept a lid on matters until now and, Arsenal being Arsenal, they can generally expect to be without at least a handful of the group. Against Burnley, Wenger was without the long-term casualties Mesut Özil and Olivier Giroud while Wilshere was unavailable with a minor knock, Serge Gnabry was not yet fully fit after serious knee trouble and Diaby continues to struggle.

Wenger said Ramsey had been “sick all week” and he used him only as a substitute. But light is shining at the end of the tunnel and Wenger’s introduction of Theo Walcott as a late replacement for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain offered evidence of the tantalising possibilities.

It was Walcott’s first appearance since 4 January and a cruciate knee ligament rebuild and he looked good, drawing one save from the outstanding Burnley goalkeeper, Tom Heaton, and crossing for another substitute, Lukas Podolski, to crash a volley against the post. With Sánchez, Welbeck and Walcott, Wenger has pace to burn.

“They have good pace but it is as well about balance,” Wenger said. “That is a difficulty for us maybe there – to keep the balance offensively and defensively, and put all the good players on the pitch.”

Caution must remain the watchword with Walcott over the next few weeks and Wenger had a clear message for the England manager, Roy Hodgson, who could recall the winger for the Euro 2016 qualifier in Slovenia on Saturday week and the friendly in Scotland three days after that.

“If Theo wants to go, I’m happy for him to go and practise and maybe get a few minutes,” Wenger said. “Mentally, it will help him. Is he completely ready? I think it is a bit early but to be in the squad will be good for him.

“It’s good to have him back but we have to be cautious always. The battle is not won. Nine or 10 months out – you have ups and downs. I will have to manage that well.”

Wenger did not sound as if he were ready to pick Walcott from the start against Anderlecht in the Champions League on Tuesday night. “I am not ruling it out but I do not want as well to make a big mistake,” he said.

Excitement, however, was the order of the day for Arsenal and it was encapsulated by Sánchez, the red-hot Chile forward, who once again found a way to be decisive. Wenger described his opening goal – a towering leap and brave header – as bearing the hallmarks of the traditional English No9 and Sánchez’s impact since his summer move from Barcelona has been startling. Six of his 10 goals have come at 0-0 in matches while he also scored at 1-1 against Manchester City in September.

Burnley have scored five times all season and they did not look like altering the statistic even though Sean Dyche again played with two strikers. For the manager this was the latest reality check.

“It’s a fine line between how much you open up to try and win a game and how much you stay tight not to lose,” Dyche said. “It’s very difficult against teams of this calibre.”

Man of the match Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal)

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