Walcott Warns Arsenal: “Chelsea Are Genuine Title Contenders This Season”

Former England forward Theo Walcott has urged Arsenal to treat Chelsea as a serious Premier League title threat following the Gunners’ hard-fought 1–1 draw with the Blues on Sunday.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Walcott analysed the heated London derby, which saw Chelsea take the lead early in the second half despite being reduced to 10 men after Moises Caicedo was shown a red card. Trevor Chalobah’s strike put Enzo Maresca’s side ahead before Mikel Merino’s well-timed header rescued a point for Arsenal.

The draw keeps Arsenal at the top of the table, six points clear of Chelsea, but Walcott believes the gap is not as comfortable as it looks.

He said:

“I think so. Arsenal’s problem last year was that they drew too many games. Chelsea’s this year is too many red cards.”

Walcott noted that despite Arsenal’s strong position, complacency would be dangerous:

“Right now, Arsenal are very comfortable, but I do think there are more gears to come from them.”

He praised the Gunners’ improved patience in big games this season but urged them to raise their intensity:

“They just need to pick up the intensity from start to finish. A lot of teams can’t cope with them; they need to ask questions of each other and maybe go away from what Mikel Arteta is saying at times.”

Opinion: Walcott Has a Point—Chelsea Are No Longer the Team to Overlook

Many fans dismissed Chelsea early in the season, but Walcott’s warning feels valid. Enzo Maresca’s squad is showing grit, resilience, and a growing identity—three traits of a team that can sustain a title push. Their ability to trouble Arsenal even with 10 men says a lot about their evolution.

Arsenal, on the other hand, remain strong favourites. But the Premier League has shown time after time that titles are not won by comfort—they’re won by consistency, ruthlessness, and learning from the margins.

If Chelsea can fix their discipline issues and Arsenal continue dropping points in tight fixtures, the title race could get more dramatic than expected.

For Arsenal, the message is clear: stay hungry, stay sharp, and don’t underestimate the blue side of London.