In October 2011, Arsenal beat Chelsea 5-3 in a stunning Premier League encounter at Stamford Bridge. It was their last away win over the Blues.
Departed Gunners hero Robin van Persie bagged a hat-trick in that game, while Andre Santos and Theo Walcott – with this stunning individual effort – also hit the net.
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Since then, Arsenal have met Chelsea nine times – and scored just three goals.
The Blues have kept clean sheets in six of those nine games, with only Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott – again – breaching their defence.
Walcott has only completed the full 90 minutes in two of Arsenal’s last nine games against Chelsea, but he simply must start on Saturday, when the London rivals meet in SW6.
The 26-year-old’s footballing life is dominated by an ongoing battle with teammate Olivier Giroud, with both men eager to become recognised as Arsenal’s first choice starting striker in Arsene Wenger’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
After scoring 19 goals in all competitions last season, Giroud appears to be Arsenal’s main man in general.
However, Walcott, who managed just seven goals during an injury-ravaged 2014-15 campaign, has what it takes to frighten Chelsea, while Giroud does not.
Walcott has scored five Arsenal goals against Chelsea, including the cracker above. Giroud has never put the ball in the Blues’ net, despite facing them seven times.
Chelsea’s defence is very impressive on paper. John Terry and Gary Cahill have more than 100 senior England caps between them.
However, both men – Terry in particular – struggle against raw pace.
Terry was hauled off at half time in Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Manchester City last month, with Jose Mourinho’s post-match quotes in the London Evening Standard suggesting that he took his captain off because he was finding it hard to deal with the speedy Sergio Aguero.
SEE MORE: Jose Mourinho explains John Terry substitution: Chelsea captain not quick enough
Terry’s lack of pace also cost him in Chelsea’s recent 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion – he was sent off for fouling Salomon Rondon after the South American striker had nipped in front of him.
Chelsea’s skipper – now 34 years old – is no longer able to keep rapid strikers in his pocket.
And Walcott is not just another quick forward. The creators of FIFA 16 have rated the former Southampton starlet the fastest player in world football, according to The Telegraph.
SEE MORE: Fastest players on FIFA 16: Arsenal star’s pace UNBEATABLE… Chelsea, Man U & Liverpool men also 90+
Giroud is a very clever footballer who can play the target man role excellently. However, the Frenchman will not intimidate Terry or Cahill – both of whom are equally sharp mentally.
If Walcott starts on Saturday, Chelsea will be unsettled.
Even if Terry manages to avoid being roasted directly by Walcott, the Chelsea skipper will at the very least be distracted by Arsenal’s longest-serving player, thus creating more opportunities for the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil to shine.
Mourinho would be very brave to drop Terry and bring in Kurt Zouma to contend with Walcott’s pace. Some may argue that he should do just that.
However, there is no guarantee that Zouma will be able to stop a player who has scored four goals in his last three games for club and country, either.
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