Arsenal and England have
been dealt a cruel blow after Theo Walcott was ruled out for the rest
of the season and this summer’s World Cup in Brazil after suffering
serious knee ligament damage during Saturday’s FA Cup victory over
Tottenham Hotspur.
Walcott jarred his left knee while
making a tackle on Danny Rose nine minutes from the end of the home
side’s 2-0 victory in the north London derby and departed on a stretcher
while being pelted with coins and plastic bottles thrown from the away
support. The early indications were that the 24-year-old had only
strained the ligaments in the joint, an injury that would have kept him
out for up to four weeks at most. Scans undertaken on Monday confirmed
the damage was far more extensive.
The forward has ruptured the anterior
cruciate ligament in the knee and will undergo surgery to repair the
joint in London within the next two weeks once the swelling has receded.
Arsenal confirmed on Monday night that they expect him to be absent for
“at least six months”, prematurely curtailing his campaign and denying
him the chance to compete in Brazil. “Everyone at Arsenal wishes Theo a
speedy recovery and we look forward to seeing him back on a football
pitch as soon as possible,” said a club statement.
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