Walcott - World Cup must wait

Gunners ace remains fully focused on domestic duties

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 25th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Walcott - World Cup must wait

Walcott: Out to impress

You could have a great season, get injured at the end of it and miss out. So I am just going to concentrate on every single game until the end of the season and see where it takes me.

Theo Walcott
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Theo Walcott has taken Arsene Wenger's advice on board and is focused solely on making an impression at Arsenal.

The Gunners boss issued an angry riposte to reports earlier this week when questioned about the impact next summer's World Cup will have on his international stars.

The Frenchman made it clear that he is not concerned about events in South Africa, with his job to make sure that success is achieved at Emirates Stadium.

Walcott has echoed the sentiments of his boss, insisting he must perform well at club level if he is to have any hope of forcing his way into Fabio Capello's England plans.

"You want to play well for your country and the summer (at the World Cup) will come if you have a great season," said Walcott.

"The best way is just to take every game as it comes and not look into the future because you never know what is going to happen.

"You could have a great season, get injured at the end of it and miss out. So I am just going to concentrate on every single game until the end of the season and see where it takes me.

"I want to get back in the starting line-up for Arsenal and hopefully try and help us to go far in the Premier League.

"We have got a great bunch of lads and I want to be part of the starting line-up. I just want to get back playing for Arsenal, that is the best way."

Role reversal

Walcott has often been deployed as a right winger by Arsenal and England, with his pace considered to be a useful weapon down the flanks.

He could, however, be set for a return to a central striking role - where he played during his early days at Southampton - in the wake of Robin van Persie's untimely injury picked up while on duty with the Dutch national side.

"It is a shame with Robin because he has done such a tremendous job for us this year," Walcott said.

"We have got great strikers who can come in for him and I am one of a bunch of strikers who can do that job.

"I would love to play upfront, it was my position, but at this club I'll play anywhere. I played up front at Southampton and it has been quite a while."

Comments (3)

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Steve Reid (Arsenal fan) says...

All walcott needed to do is just get on with is footboll . if arsenal do well walcott will go to the world cup , just like arsene wenger say the worldcup is in june. so walcott arsenal all the way.

Posted 22:15 25th November 2009

Chris Towers (Arsenal fan) says...

Walcott in the central role? Surely not. Eduardo will fill in for Van Persie as he did at Sunderland, flanked by Arshavin and either Walcott or Rosicky. But once Theo gets some consecutive appearances under his belt, I see him starting on that right side. Come on GUNNERS!

Posted 20:13 25th November 2009

David Nkhoma (Arsenal fan) says...

Theo cld play anywhere else.Am sure we wont miss Robin much so long as we keep on scoring goals.Anybody cld score @ arsenal & trust me Chelsea is gonna cry come sunday!

Posted 19:31 25th November 2009
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