Theo Walcott professed his worries about Arsenal deciding against joining the race for new Chelsea striker Liam Delap.
The Englishman enjoyed an impressive individual season with Ipswich as he scored 12 Premier League goals. However, the club were still relegated in their first season back in the top-flight since their 2001/02 campaign.
The 22-year-old had a £30million release clause in his contract, which was triggered by the Blues, who decided to shore up their striker options ahead of a return to the Champions League next season.
Delap gave his preference to the west London side despite interest from Manchester United. The England U21 star inked a six-year deal and joins a struggling striker department of Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku and Marc Guiu.
While Arsenal have been in the market for a number nine, with Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko routinely linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, Walcott admitted that their city rivals clinching a deal for Delap scares him.
The ex-England international, who joined Match Of The Day as a studio analyst last summer, said in an interview with The Athletic: "When people speculate, clubs look for a No. 9 and the fans get upset or confused saying, 'Why can’t we find a No 9?' It’s really hard to find them because everyone wants to be that really predictable player… those who like to come inside.
"Strikers are selfish, they just want to score goals. But now, all of a sudden, the wingers are starting to get more selfish because they want to cut in and do their thing. They’re not connecting like they once did.
"That’s why Delap going to Chelsea worries me as an Arsenal fan."
Theo Walcott speaking during UEFA Champions League coverage
Theo Walcott admitted it was disappointing not to see Arsenal attempt to sign Liam Delap (Image: Amazon Prime Video)
The number nine shirt has weighed heavy on several high-profile who played for Chelsea, including the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Romelu Lukaku, Gonzalo Higuain, Álvaro Morata and Fernando Torres. However, Walcott believes Delap can handle the pressure before crowning him as England's next great striker after Harry Kane.
"I know they have been going for that No 9, that Didier Drogba type, it’s that curse of the No 9. Delap can break that curse because he’s a really good striker," the Arsenal hero added. "He’s the next one after Harry Kane for England."
The former winger knows as much as anybody what it takes to become a consistent goalscorer, having played alongside Thierry Henry, Olivier Giroud, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie in north London.
Mikel Arteta giving instructions during an Arsenal match
Mikel Arteta is targeting a striker this summer (Image: (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images))
"(It) disappoints me as an Arsenal fan if you don’t go after someone like that," he admitted. "You can see it in him as well, you can see his fight. He doesn’t care who he plays against."
Delap began his career in blue on the perfect note after he was subbed on in their 2-0 victory over LAFC in their opening fixture of the FIFA Club World Cup. Delap made an instant impact and it was his cross that Enzo Fernandez got on the end off to double Chelsea's lead in the second half.
Join the football.london Arsenal WhatsApp channel
Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
Join our Arsenal WhatsApp channel and get all the latest breaking news, opinion, podcasts and in-depth stories from football.london's dedicated Arsenal writers straight to your phone!
By following this free service you will be the first to know the news from the Emirates Stadium as it happens, when it happens.
To join our dedicated Arsenal channel, all you have to do is click this link and you can join thousands of others following our Gunners coverage!
If you're curious, you can check out our privacy policy here.