Walcott Set For Shoulder Surgery

Arsenal forward Theo Walcott is set to undergo an operation on the shoulder he dislocated while training with the England squad.

Arsene Wenger will not be pleased that the shoulder that Theo Walcott dislocated this week on England duty will require surgery, and the player will miss a further seven to eight weeks of action.

To complicate matters, Walcott has a hereditary shoulder problem, and saw a specialist in Germany before flying back to England. He is set to undergo the operation in the next couple of days.

This is the latest in a line of recurring shoulder problems that Walcott has suffered throughout his career. He had his left shoulder pinned in 2007 and had to be stretchered off during Arsenal's recent game at Stoke after falling heavily on it and suffering spasms.

Walcott is not expected to return to action until 2009, meaning he will miss the rest of Arsenal's Champions League group games and and at least seven Premier League matches.

During Tuesday's training session Theo Walcott dislocated his right shoulder after falling on the pitch," said an FA statement.

"Arsenal's medical staff were advised of the injury soon after the incident."

Arsene Wenger had already spoken out and voiced his displeasure at the scheduling of this current round of international friendlies prior to Walcott hurting himself, saying:

It is particularly not welcome at the moment because it is at a period where you want your players to recover a little bit.

"I don't see what you gain from this friendly because there is no game. You can explain a friendly to prepare for an official match but after this there is no international game for four months."

Arsenal have certainly gained nothing from this game. Struggling with inconsistent form, the Gunners will now be without one of their most potent attacking threats for a key part of the season.