Theo Walcott spoke to the media following the Gunners’ recent win over Stoke at the Emirates.
Arsenal played Mark Hughes’ side this weekend and the north London club ran away with a 2-0 victory which puts them third in the table. Goals from Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud secured the win, but Arsene Wenger’s side could have scored more if they had been more clinical in front of goal.
The Arsenal website reports Walcott’s comments to the media after the game. When asked about the win, the English international was pleased with the result and the chances that the team made and suggested that the Arsenal of old are slowly creeping back into the team’s game.
In the end we had a clean sheet and that’s always the most important goal.
We know we’re going to score goals and we know we’re going to create chances as well. We create chances so we just have to put them away.
We’re starting to get back to the old Arsenal. We’re very pleased after this game.
When reflecting on his goal, Walcott mentioned the importance of both Mesut Ozil and Francis Coquelin in the build-up. However, the forward did suggest that he could have scored even more goals if he had been more prolific with the chances he had been given.
It’s things that people might not notice, like the tackle from Francis. He’s in that position for a reason, you can see it there, and that just started off the rhythm of the movement, obviously Mesut’s ball was fantastic, and it was all down to the touch. It put the defender out of the game.
I was pleased with that goal.
I was disappointed because I should have got many, many more, but I’m in the chances so I’m happy with that.
Walcott was asked about the differences when playing up front during home and away fixtures and he suggested that leading the attacking line is always difficult, so you need to make the most of the chances you get.
It’s difficult in any position.
The Premier League is the best league in the world and you’re playing against the best players. You’ve just got to adapt to the game you’re playing and then if players drop off, you keep on moving and hopefully create space for other people.
That’s all that you can do and when you get given the opportunity you have to try to grab the goals when you can.
Luckily I managed to grab one out of my many chances.
The Englishman also hinted that he’d like an extended run up-front and is enjoying the competition with Olivier Giroud for a starting role in the Arsenal team.
I’ve said to the manager that I’d like to play up front.
I can play in any of those three positions up front, so it’s a good option for the manager to have.
It’s nice to see Olivier among the goals as well, which shows it’s great competition that we have for places here.
Everyone is staying fit as well which is important. We want everyone to stay fit with this important Premier League run.
The Gunners currently rest in third place behind the two Manchester clubs and will be hoping that their recent run of form will carry on next weekend when they face a stuttering Chelsea side.
