Theo Walcott ‘open’ to leaving Arsenal on loan as Everton and Southampton show interest
Gunners star has yet to start Premier League game this season and may be forced to quit Emirates with West Ham another side who have looked at taking forward in January
THEO WALCOTT is considering quitting Arsenal next month in search of regular first team football.
Walcott has seen his opportunities at the Emirates limited this season and has yet to start a game in the Premier League.
The England star's eight starts have come in Carabao Cup and Europa League matches as he falls out of Arsene Wenger's plans.
And now Football London say the 28-year-old is open to the idea of leaving the club he joined as a 17-year-old in pursuit of more games.
Walcott has been forced to get used to being a substitute so far during this campaign with Alaxandre Lacazette now the clear first choice in attack for Wenger.
Even with Olivier Giroud ruled out with a hamstring injury, Walcott was an unused sub in the 3-2 win over Crystal Palace on Tuesday.
And his chances of making starts seem so limited he is finally entertaining the thought of leaving Arsenal because of the need to be playing week-in week out at this stage in his career.
Walcott is still confident he has the ability to play at one of the big clubs in England, so is against making a permanent move in the January transfer window.
ALL GUNNER END IN JEERS Arsenal stars are sick of Alexis Sanchez and want him out
Instead he would prefer the option of a loan move until the end of the season, in which time he can prove he can still cut it as a genuine threat in the Premier League.
That would then allow him to either show Wenger he is still good enough to be part of his plans next season, are persuade a top six club to invest in him over the summer.
Latest Arsenal transfer news
There is no shortage of interest in him next month from further down the table, with Everton boss Sam Allardyce entertaining the idea of taking him to Goodison Park.
Former club Southampton have also been showing signs they would like to take him back to St. Mary's to bolster the efforts to pull away from relegation trouble.
West Ham tried to sign Walcott on a permanent deal 18 months ago but the player believed he was still a big part of Arsenal's first team plans at that stage.
The interest from the Hammers has not gone away and they have been kept informed of his situation since then.
The opportunity for David Moyes to secure him on loan for the final five months of the season would be attractive, but the midfield area is seen as a more pressing cause of problems at the London Stadium.