Theo Walcott has reportedly told Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger that he no longer wants to be considered as a solo striker as the 27-year-old tries to salvage his Arsenal career.
Walcott wants to go back to playing wide on the right again after a decade of failing to establish himself a center forward in Wenger’s system.
Asked if he feared for his place again with Olivier Giroud the preferred solo striker and Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette possibly coming in Walcott said:
“That’s a question for the manager.
“I have told the manager that I want to be known for playing on the right again, although I can play up front.
As for myself, I know where I want to play. The manager has said I can play up front. It depends on what game it is. I know I can do a job up front as well as on the right.
“I want to make my position on the right; that’s where I am now.
“I have been here 10 years. There is always competition for places. It doesn’t matter what club you are at. I always believe that I can get back to where I want to be. I’m sure if I keep working hard then I will get there.”
Walcott had a miserable season last year and this preseason has not gone any better as he has failed to impress so far, going three games without a goal.
Theo was once hailed as the next great thing in English football. He became England’s youngest ever senior football player aged 17 years and 75 days in 2006 and in 2008 he became the youngest player in history to score a hat-trick for England.
But that was 8 years ago, it many will question whether Walcott has developed at all as a player since those teenage days. He still has tremendous speed, but despite a decade under Arsene Wenger’s tutelage, is Walcott a better player today than when he arrived from Southampton for £5m?
And more importantly, is there still a place in the Arsenal line-up for Theo Walcott?