Arsenal's Theo Walcott will miss the remainder of the season and the 2014 World Cup after being ruled out for at least six months with a knee injury. The 24-year old winger was injured during the 2-0 FA Cup third-round victory over Tottenham on Saturday. The club released a statement saying: "Theo has sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee. He will have surgery in the near future and is expected to be out for at least six months, thus missing the rest of the season and the World Cup."
Team-mate Aaron Ramsey wrote on Twitter: "Gutted for Theo, he'll come back stronger after this. Been fantastic for us so far this season. Have a speedy recovery mate." The World Cup starts on 12 June, while England play their first match against Italy on 14 June. Walcott has earned 36 caps and scored five goals for England.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has all sorts of injury problems as he is expected to be without Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner for all of January due to an ankle injury, while France forward Olivier Giroud has missed Arsenal's past two games. Walcott was signed from Southampton in 2006 for an initial £5m, rising to around £12.5m, a record fee for a teenage player. The Arsenal statement continued: "Everyone at Arsenal wishes Theo a speedy recovery and we look forward to seeing him back on a football pitch as soon as possible."
England are 33/1 to win the World Cup at Bet365, while favourites Brazil are 3/1.
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