Southampton and West Ham supporters have been in contrasting moods in the Transfer Tavern so far this week, what with the Saints securing a decent 1-1 draw away at Bournemouth on Sunday, while the Hammers fell to defeat, albeit a spirited one, at Premier League leaders Manchester City later in the day.
Mauricio Pellegrino’s Southampton went into their clash with their South Coast rivals off the back of conceding a 96th minute winner to Pep Guardiola’s City in midweek, yet seemed undeterred in picking up a deserved point at the Vitality Stadium thanks to Charlie Austin’s second half equaliser. However, things weren’t quite so rosy for West Ham boss David Moyes, who saw his side put up a brave effort at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, only to concede an 83rd minute David Silva goal to go down 2-1 to the table-toppers, and thus remain in the Premier League’s bottom three.
Consequently, both sets of supporters have been in differing moods in the Tavern this week, although they are both likely to be intrigued by a recent report from The Sun, which suggests that the Premier League duo are set to go head to head for the signature of Arsenal’s Theo Walcott.
The 28-year-old ace left Southampton to link up with the Gunners back in 2006 and he has since gone on to play 393 games for the North London outfit, bagging 107 goals and laying on 75 assists in the process.
However, with just ten appearances in all competitions so far this term, of which only three have come in the Premier League, the England international appears to be a surplus to requirements at the Emirates Stadium, and reports suggest that both the Saints and the Hammers are interested in landing him in January.
And with both sides showing a bluntness going forward so far this season, it’s a move both could look to make, but whether either are indeed able to get a deal done remains to be seen.
Landlord’s verdict: Theo Walcott made the move to Arsenal back in 2006 amid much anticipation, yet many of our resident Gunners fans feel that, ten years on, he has still yet to reach his full potential.
The 28-year-old has scored 107 goals in 393 games for the North London outfit, but with just ten appearances so far this season, a move away looks to be in the offing in January, especially given that there is a World Cup at the end of the campaign, of which Walcott will surely want to be a part.
And reports suggest that former club Southampton and David Moyes’ West Ham are interested in the Englishman, and with both teams having struggled in the attacking third so far this term, he’d surely benefit both in the second half of the campaign.
And with Arsenal reportedly ready to let him go, Walcott looks set to end his decade-long stint at the Emirates in the New Year.
Southampton and West Ham fans… what do you make of the news? Let us know!
