“I’m honestly disappointed in Arteta for not pushing for the player that Chelsea just signed. I’m sorry, but i really believe that Arsenal would bottle the League in the coming season because they lost this key player to Chelsea” This is according to Theo Walcott as he expresses disappointment that Arsenal made no effort to pursue talented Chelsea player.

Ex-Arsenal attacker Theo Walcott has shown admiration for a rising Chelsea talent and expressed regret that Mikel Arteta’s team didn’t pursue him.

As Chelsea strengthen their already solid squad ahead of the Club World Cup, new additions like Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, and Mamadou Sarr have joined Enzo Maresca’s setup. Maresca recently acknowledged the arrival of Essugo and Sarr, emphasizing that patience will be needed as they develop.

Walcott, meanwhile, has voiced his frustration over Arsenal’s lack of interest in Delap, one of Chelsea’s recent high-profile signings.

Delap, signed from Ipswich Town, is widely regarded as one of the most promising English forwards of his generation. Sharing his thoughts with The Athletic, Walcott said:

“As an Arsenal fan, it worries me to see Delap head to Chelsea. They’ve been searching for a true No. 9, a player in the mold of Didier Drogba. I think Delap has the potential to end that No. 9 ‘curse’. He’s a top striker and could be England’s successor to Harry Kane.”

Walcott added that Arsenal missed an opportunity:

“It’s disappointing that Arsenal didn’t try to bring in someone like him. You can see his hunger and fight—he’s not fazed by who he plays against.”

While Arsenal didn’t enter the race, several other Premier League sides, including Manchester United, were keen on Delap. The England U21 forward ultimately chose Chelsea and may debut against LAFC in the Club World Cup.

In addition, Chelsea are eyeing another young talent—Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa. Though Walcott appreciates Rogers’ skill, he criticized a recent decision to deploy him out of position:

“Rogers was barely noticeable in that game because he was played out of his natural role,” Walcott explained. “He thrives with the ball at his feet—he shouldn’t be used in unfamiliar positions.”

If Rogers joins Chelsea, he is expected to play either behind Delap or on the flanks.