Walcott also praises appointment of Sam Allardyce as the new England manager
Wednesday 3 August 2016 14:50, UK
Theo Walcott has told Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger he wants to be considered as a right winger instead of a forward for the forthcoming season.
The 27-year-old previously insisted his desire to make the transition from winger to forward and claimed he could be the answer to Arsenal's search for a '20 goal a season striker'.
But he has since failed to establish himself as the Gunners' regular frontman and has even been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium this summer in the national press.
Wenger has expressed his desire to add to his squad before the close of the summer transfer window and Sky sources understand Arsenal will increase their offer for Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette as he steps up his search for a new forward.
With that possibly in mind, Walcott says he is determined to regain his very best form as a winger, although he insisted he would play as a forward if called upon during the 2016/17 campaign.
"I want to make my position on the right - that's where I know where I am now. I've told the manager that I want to be known for playing on the right again, although I can play up front," Walcott, who has scored 85 goals in 334 appearances for Arsenal, said.
"I want to know where I want to play. The manager has said I can play up front. It depends on what game it is. I know I can do a job up front as well as on the right."
Walcott, who will face competition from Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the emerging Alex Iwobi for a place on the wing, was left out of England's Euro 2016 squad in May following a disappointing 2015/16 season.
But Walcott, capped 43 times by England, is positive about his chances of forcing his way back into the national set-up under new manager Sam Allardyce.
"Sam Allardyce has come in and everyone starts on a clean slate," he said.
"I'm excited to see what he is going to bring. He gets the best out of his players. He knows how to get results.
"His teams were always difficult to play against. That is what you want going into an England team. You want England to be difficult to break down.
"I'm sure he is going to get results. At times, it is not all about pretty football."
