Walcott could miss start of season

Posted on | Thursday, July 28, 2011 | No Comments

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger revealed striker Theo Walcott has left the club's training camp in Germany to undergo a scan on a recurring ankle problem.

England international Walcott, 22, missed training on Monday before it was decided to send him home and try to solve the problem before Arsenal begin their Barclays Premier League match against Newcastle next month.

Wenger, who will start the new season, hoping to guide his team to a first piece of silverware in six years, said the club's official website of the injury required "investigation".

"Theo went home early and had an MRI," he said.

"This is an ankle injury that comes and goes. We need more research, because sometimes it is completely devoid of it and sometimes hits it. We had to send him back because he could not practice it anymore."

Meanwhile Wenger also confirmed that midfielder Conor Henderson youth began to miss at least six months of the season.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 international was a stretcher late stages of Saturday's 2-1 victory in Cologne, and his injury has now been confirmed.

Wenger said: "Conor is a knee injury and appears to be crusading This unfortunately means that he's gone at least six months .."

Arsenal before the season comes to a head this weekend when they play Boca Juniors and New York Red Bulls of the fifth Emirates Cup, and Wenger is ready to face the champions of 23 hours in Argentina.

"The South American cycle of the ball at a slow pace and suddenly try to kill, so it is always a good experience - and have all the tricks of street soccer as well," he said.

"They can slow the game down, they always have good technique and intelligent behavior on the back. It is always difficult to score goals against them. Boca Juniors is a big name in international football, it will be interesting. "