Former Arsenal and England forward Theo Walcott has admitted that Chelsea have emerged as a genuine "problem" for his old club in this season's Premier League title race. Walcott's comments come after Sunday's intense 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge, which left the Blues six points behind the Gunners in third place.
Chelsea's Transformation Under Maresca
Reflecting on the London derby and the wider campaign on the 'It's Called Soccer' podcast, Walcott conceded that Enzo Maresca's side must now be viewed as serious contenders. He pointed to their remarkable turnaround after a rocky start, where they managed just two wins in their opening six games following their Club World Cup success.
Since then, Chelsea have dropped points on only two other occasions – against Sunderland and Arsenal – to propel themselves up the table. "Yes, I think they are [serious challengers]," Walcott stated. However, he issued a significant warning about their disciplinary record, with Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah and the recently suspended Moises Caicedo all seeing red this term.
"I do feel that the disciplinary problem is a big problem," he said, drawing parallels with Arsenal's own struggles last season. "Caicedo will be a massive miss for them."
Stamford Bridge Atmosphere and Palmer's Return
Walcott, who was at the Bridge for the match, was hugely impressed by the atmosphere Maresca has cultivated, suggesting it reflects Arsenal's journey under Mikel Arteta. "I do really feel, at this moment in time, that Chelsea are a reflection of Arsenal a couple of years ago," he added.
He described the stadium as "rocking" when Chelsea scored, claiming the noise was so loud he thought the place might "fall down". Walcott believes getting the fans fully on board is the crucial first step for any project.
The ex-winger also highlighted Cole Palmer's impending return from injury as a "nice problem" for Maresca. With Caicedo banned, he expects Enzo Fernandez to drop deeper and Palmer to slot straight back into the attack. "You forget, they’ve not had him at all and he’s exceptional. I don’t think I’ve seen a better English talent for many years," Walcott praised.
Walcott's 'Constant Surprise' at Arsenal's Merino
While analysing Arsenal's performance, Walcott reserved special praise for summer signing Mikel Merino, who headed the equaliser at Stamford Bridge for his fourth goal of the campaign. With Kai Havertz injured and big-money striker Viktor Gyokeres on the bench, Merino led the line.
"He’s surprised me. He’s surprising me constantly," Walcott admitted. "I think Mikel loves people that he can trust in the group and Merino is one that just never lets him down."
He suggested that Arteta now views the Spaniard more as a forward than a midfielder, having successfully transformed his role much like he did with Havertz. Walcott believes Gyokeres' "battering ram" style is perhaps better suited to making an impact from the bench in such high-stakes fixtures.
Despite his admiration for Chelsea's resurgence, Walcott ultimately backed his former club for glory, concluding: "They won’t win, though! Arsenal will win it this year." However, he cautioned that Chelsea have a performance like their October home draw with Sunderland still in them, which could prove costly in the tightest of title races.
