Walcott argued that Timber should have left a last-minute opportunity for Gyökeres, who was better placed to score.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former Arsenal forward, Theo Walcott, has criticized Gunners’ defender, Jurriën Timber, after his team were held to a draw by London rivals, Chelsea, saying the Dutchman would be disappointed for wasting a big opportunity that could have won the three points for his club.
A frustrated Walcott made this known while analysing the Premier League encounter, played at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, on Sky Sports.
Although Arsenal are still five points clear at the top of the Premier League table, with Manchester City and Chelsea occupying second and third spots respectively, the former England international said his old club missed a big opportunity to lay down a significant marker by failing to beat Chelsea.
The Blues played the majority of Sunday’s game with 10 men following Moisés Caicedo’s red card.
Trevoh Chalobah opened the scoring for Enzo Maresca’s team at the start of the second half, but Mikel Merino levelled the scores, rescuing a vital point for Arsenal.
READ ALSO: Arsenal held by 10-man Chelsea at Stamford Bridge
However, towards the end of the game, Viktor Gyökeres had a golden opportunity spoiled by his teammate, Timber. Gyökeres looked destined to score from Piero Hincapié’s cross, only for Timber to intervene and divert his effort wide of the target.
Speaking on the right-back’s action, Walcott claimed Timber wasted the opportunity for Arsenal to win the match. He added that Timber should have left the ball for Gyökeres, who would have been in a better position to score.
“This is when you get desperate towards the end of games and you want to commit loads of bodies forward,” Walcott said.
He added, “You always feel though if a right-back is in this position, I’d be asking questions if I was Gyökeres here and saying look, this is my space, this is why I’m on the pitch.
“But look, he’s been doing it all season but he’d be disappointed. Gyökeres would have been calling it, no doubt, but it just annoys me when players are out of position. But I understand why Arsenal committed so many bodies. Gyökeres is too nice sometimes, I think.”
