Saturday 17 October 2015 13:04, UK
Theo Walcott has challenged Arsenal to take advantage of the open nature of the Premier League and end their 11-year wait to be crowned champions.
Arsene Wenger's side head to Watford on Saturday Night Football looking for a repeat performance of their last outing where Manchester United were put to the sword inside an emphatic opening 20 minutes at the Emirates.
Despite sitting second in the table, the Gunners' inconsistent early-season form has led some to question their title credentials, with inconsistency a key characteristic of their campaign to date.
However, in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Walcott revealed both he and his team-mates believe the time may have come for Arsenal to end their wait for the title, should they perform more frequently.
"It could be our year this year but we need to focus on not looking too far ahead, that is important," he said.
"The sense in the dressing room at this moment in time, the players that are in there believe we need to be doing better, we've got the talent it is just, at times, the work ethic may not be there.
"You can sense from the Manchester United game that if we continue to play like that we can beat anyone, we really can.
"The Premier League is so open this year. You can see how tight it is, every team is competing and every can beat each other.
"It is one of these leagues were you can't say who is going to make the top four, where you could in previous seasons. It is that intense and that close this year - teams are getting better and stronger.
"Everyone wants to beat the top teams, they want to prove they are better than you. That is what we are doing, we want to think we are better than any team we play against."
Walcott is closing in on his 10-year anniversary at Arsenal having moved from Southampton to North London in January 2006.
And the England forward believes this season represents the greatest chance the club have had at winning the title, with a level of belief at the club that is unrivalled to previous years.
“It could be our year this year but we need to focus on not looking too far ahead, that is important. The sense in the dressing room at this moment in time is that we need to be doing better, we’ve got the talent it is just, at times, the work ethic may not be there.”
He added: "Each individual player, when you look at our opposition, we are better than anyone, it is just believing in that and getting that belief in the team.
"[Belief] is definitely showing in patches but, more so in the Premier League, it is becoming a regular occurrence.
"We just need to continue that belief. At times, that belief has not been there and, sensing it now, it is probably the strongest it has ever been since I have been at the club and that is good sign."
Catch the full extended interview with Theo Walcott on Soccer Saturday from 12pm on Sky Sports News HQ and watch Watford v Arsenal live on Saturday Night Football, 5pm, Sky Sports 1 HD.
