Theo Walcott has expressed optimism regarding Arsenal's prospects of securing a new striker before the January transfer window closes. The Gunners recently made an attempt to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa, but their initial offer was swiftly rejected by the Midlands club.
Watkins, who has represented England at the international level, has indicated a willingness to join Arsenal, having been a supporter of the club during his youth. However, Aston Villa's manager, Unai Emery, has firmly stated that the 29-year-old is not available for transfer, particularly following the recent departure of Jhon Duran. While it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will make a second bid for Watkins, Walcott has suggested that Liam Delap of Ipswich Town could be a viable alternative.
Delap, a 21-year-old forward, joined Ipswich from Manchester City in the summer and has made a notable impact, netting eight goals this season. In addition to Delap, Arsenal has also been linked with a potential loan move for Brighton's Evan Ferguson. However, Walcott believes that targeting Delap may be the more strategic option, especially with Chelsea also keeping an eye on the young striker.
During the launch of Guinness's #TransferThatPint campaign, Walcott shared his insights on Ferguson, stating: "I think he's a good player. He's had a bit of an injury and found it hard to get back in which is understandable. Brighton are quite a steady solid team and the players he's brought in from Watford, Joao Pedro, has come in and actually gone ahead of him. He'll be a player for me if they couldn't get their main target, it's a good option to have, knowing maybe you could resell him at some point. I think he'd have to accept that he wouldn't be a starter."
Regarding Delap, Walcott remarked, "I think they would look more at Liam Delap before Ferguson, because of what he's done up until now. And they have similar attributes, their style of play. I wouldn't shy against it, because it's different. And you look at Arsenal's set pieces and it's another player of stature to think about it. It's another dynamic. I wouldn't be against anything like that. They do need a natural number nine. There are not many natural number nines. And it's not going to be 60/80 million for Ferguson, no disrespect. But there's potential there and Mikel has that reputation for working with young players. He's working with Ethan Nwaneri right now. I wouldn't be against it if they don't get their main target. Not a stopgap, that sounds awful, but while they wait for their main number nine."
Walcott’s comments highlight the ongoing challenges Arsenal faces in their pursuit of a striker as they navigate the complexities of the transfer market. With the window nearing its conclusion, the Gunners will need to act decisively to enhance their attacking options and maintain their competitive edge.