Walcott seeks killer instinct

Winger refuses to give up on title dream

Last updated: 8th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Walcott seeks killer instinct

Walcott: Honest assessment

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Arsenal star Theo Walcott believes his side need to find a killer instinct if they are to stay in the title race.

The Gunners saw their championship challenge suffer a major blow after losing 2-0 to Chelsea on Sunday to slip nine points behind the men from Stamford Bridge.

Arsenal dominated possession for large proceedings of the game, but they were made to pay for their lack of clinical edge by two Didier Drogba goals.

Walcott concedes they need to learn from their mistakes and he is confident they can still battle their way back into the title race.

"We dominated the game, but Chelsea took their chances and you have got to be decisive," Walcott told the club's official website.

"We need to learn from that and then push on for the Liverpool game, because if we keep the ball like we did against Chelsea, but create more chances, we can kill anyone.

"However, everyone just remembers the results, and that is what we have to do - win these games and not lie down in the big matches."

Bounce back

Arsenal face Liverpool on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1, and Walcott knows they must bounce back to have any chance of winning the title.

"We have to believe we are always in the title race, no matter where we are in the league," added Walcott

"We would like to have more points than we had from these last few games, but now we just have to get the result against Liverpool.

"Every Premier League game is hard, and other teams can drop points, but we just need to concentrate on ourselves.

"If we perform like we did at Chelsea, but take our chances, then we can beat anyone on our day."

Walcott made a rare start at Stamford Bridge after an injury-plagued campaign and the England international is hoping he can hold down a regular place in Arsene Wenger's starting XI for the rest of the season.

"I have been training well and now just want to get back in the first team," noted Walcott.

"The fitness is coming and hopefully if I can turn my training into performances, then I can stay in the starting line-up."

Complicated
Walcott's team-mate Gael Clichy is refusing to give up on their title challenge, but concedes they cannot afford any more slip-ups.

"It is even more complicated now to win the league, but we have to keep fighting until the end," said the French defender.

"We have seen since the start of the season, everyone can drop points against anyone.

"It is not going to be easy, but it is not finished.

"We were 11 points behind and came back so we have to hope they drop points and make sure we don't drop any points."

Clichy added: "When you want to be the best, after every defeat you have to ask the right questions to yourself and the team. You have to go again and dig in.

"That is what we are going to start doing again in training because it is only with hard work and a bit of luck that things can happen. Maybe then we can go somewhere."