Theo Walcott could have had a hat-trick in tonight’s 4-2 win at BATE Borisov but was happy to cede the stage so Olivier Giroud could make his own piece of Arsenal history.
Giroud scored the 100th goal of his five years at Arsenal from the penalty spot in Belarus, joining Walcott in the 19-strong list of forwards with a century of Gunners goals to his name.
Walcott had already scored Arsenal’s first two, profiting from woeful BATE defending as the visitors cruised into a three goal lead inside 25 minutes, but was more than willing to hand spot-kick duties to Giroud.
“Obviously being a forward you want to score as many goals as you can,” Walcott told BT Sport.
“There was a chance for me to take the penalty for a hat-trick but Olivier was on 99 goals," he told BT Sport.
“It's a great moment in his career to get 100 goals for Arsenal, I have achieved that and I know the feeling and it is brilliant.
"That is why he took the penalty. I can't be too selfish."
Arsenal had to survive a late fightback from BATE after Giroud’s penalty after the same sloppy defending that had handed Mirko Ivanic a first-half header allowed Mikhail Gordeichuk to hammer home a second.
Goalkeeper David Ospina’s work on both goals ought to come under the microscope but Walcott was more focused on the positives from a fluid attacking display.
“I felt we pressed well and attacked very well as a unit,” he said. “We were very steady in the first 60 minutes.
“We’re disappointed with the goals we conceded, but when you score four times away from home you’re more likely than not to win.”
