Walcott wants central role

Arsenal forward eager to impress

Last updated: 17th July 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Walcott wants central role

Walcott: Prefers central role

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Theo Walcott is eager to be given the opportunity to impress in a central striking role by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger this season.

The 20-year-old England international, who is primarily used as a winger by the Gunners, admits that he is keen to be employed in his preferred position.

Wenger has told the Walcott that his chance will come, and the former Southampton youngster wants to add to his goal tally in the coming season.

"The boss said hopefully he will start to put me up front now and then," he told the club's official website.

"That's my natural position but I'd play anywhere for this team.

"I want to improve my final ball and score more goals. You get judged on goals so I want to score 15-plus this season.

"I love making runs in behind, I love scoring goals and making goals. That's what I'll be judged on and I'm looking forward to that."

Dirty things

And Walcott believes the Emirates Stadium side must learn to win ugly if they are to challenge for silverware following a four-year trophy drought.

Despite reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League and FA Cup last term, Walcott believes the Gunners can learn much from Manchester United and Chelsea.

"I think we need to do the dirty things right," he admitted.

"Sometimes it's not just about pretty football, we need to grind out the results sometimes and get the win, get the three points.

"In cup competitions no one remembers the game, as long as the result is right. We need to take that into our game.

"Manchester United and Chelsea do the dirty work and they take their chances as well, that's another thing we need to learn and improve on.

"We had a great experience of getting to semi-finals last season but not quite getting to finals. Hopefully we can put that right."