Theo Walcott ‘Worried’ as Arsenal Miss Out on £30m Chelsea New Boy

Theo Walcott Voices Concern as Chelsea Beat Arsenal to £30m Striker Liam Delap in Bold Transfer Move.

Former Arsenal forward Theo Walcott voices concern over his old club’s transfer strategy after they lost out to Chelsea in the race for striker Liam Delap. The 22-year-old Englishman completed a £30 million move from Ipswich Town to Stamford Bridge—a decision Walcott believes Arsenal may come to regret.

Delap, who impressed in the Premier League with his powerful displays and goal-scoring prowess for the Tractor Boys, was a player Walcott had earmarked as a perfect fit for Mikel Arteta’s squad. The former England international expressed his disappointment that Arsenal did not compete with Chelsea for his signature, with the Blues activating a release clause in the young striker’s contract.

“That’s why Delap going to Chelsea worries me as an Arsenal fan,” Walcott says in an interview The Athletic. “I know they have been going for that No. 9, that Didier Drogba type… Delap can break that curse because he’s a really good striker. He’s the next one after Harry Kane for England.”

Walcott, who made over 300 appearances for Arsenal, believes Delap possesses the physical attributes and fighting spirit that the Gunners are currently lacking in the final third. He highlighted the striker’s ability to hold up the ball, bring others into play, and his clinical finishing as key assets that would have significantly strengthened Arsenal’s title-chasing squad.

“It disappoints me as an Arsenal fan if you don’t go after someone like that. You can see it in him as well, you can see his fight. He doesn’t care who he plays against,” Walcott added, emphasizing the mental fortitude of the young forward.

Arsenal’s transfer strategy this summer has seen them linked with a number of other attacking targets, but for Walcott, the failure to secure a proven Premier League talent like Delap, especially to a direct rival, is a significant blow. Chelsea, under their new management, have moved swiftly to bolster their attacking options, and the acquisition of Delap is seen as a major coup.

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