Walcott: Patience paid off

Starlet thrilled at Gunners breakthrough

By James Pearson   Last updated: 25th October 2007

Walcott: Patience paid off

Walcott: Thrilled

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Theo Walcott believes patience has finally paid off after netting his first goals for Arsenal this season in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League thrashing of Slavia Prague.

The former Southampton forward has mainly been used as a substitute following his £12million move from The Saints back in January last year.

Despite being picked by Sven Goran Eriksson for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany the talented youngster failed to make the breakthrough under manager Arsene Wenger last term.

However, after being given a chance against Slavia Prague, the teenager was thrilled to open his Gunners account for the campaign and is pleased he opted against showdown talks over his lack of opportunities.

"I've been at Arsenal for almost two years now and I've had to be patient," he told the Sun. "These two goals are a weight off my shoulders.

"I went to the World Cup at 17 when I hadn't even played in the Premier League, but that wasn't my decision. It was good experience.

"But then I came back to Arsenal and wasn't that involved last season. Of course I wanted to play.

"But I was only 17 and I wasn't going to go knocking on the manager's door demanding to know when I would get my chance."