World Cup

Ray Parlour: 'Theo Walcott injury is a massive blow'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 06 January 2014

Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour admits that Theo Walcott's season-ending injury is a "massive blow" to both club and country.

Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has admitted that the injury sustained by Theo Walcott is a "massive blow" to both club and country.

Walcott suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament during Saturday's FA Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur, ruling him out for at least six months, meaning that he will miss the remainder of the Premier League season and this summer's World Cup.

Parlour believes that Walcott's injury, coupled with those suffered by Olivier Giroud and Nicklas Bendtner, will convince Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to bring in a new striker during the January transfer window.

"What a really big injury this is for Arsenal and England because I'm sure Theo would have been a starter for England in Brazil. And it must be a massive blow for himself because he's playing in a very good team at the moment, top of the league, and looking forward to Brazil," Parlour told Sky Sports News.

"He must be absolutely distraught about the extent of the injury. He'll be absolutely distraught losing the rest of the season and obviously missing the World Cup which is the best tournament to ever play in.

"He's a very important player for Arsenal this season and Arsene Wenger will be looking at it. That's another striker. After losing Bendtner, Giroud is injured, Walcott - who can play up front - he's injured now. I'm sure Arsene Wenger now says to the board or whoever is involved in the transfer policy: 'we definitely need at least one or maybe two strikers to come into the club'."

Walcott is yet to feature at a World Cup having not played in 2006 and seeing himself omitted from the squad entirely four years later.