Theo Walcott: World Cup dream driving my fight to regain Arsenal place

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James Olley20 October 2017

Theo Walcott has revealed how his World Cup dream is driving the fight to regain his starting place at Arsenal.

The 28-year-old made just his fourth start of the season in Thursday's 1-0 Europa League Group H win over Red Star Belgrade here in Serbia, linking brilliantly with Jack Wilshere in a flowing move before providing the assist for Olivier Giroud’s stunning volleyed winner.

Walcott is yet to feature for the Gunners in the Premier League this season after falling behind Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Danny Welbeck and Alex Iwobi in the pecking order for a spot in manager Arsene Wenger’s 3-4-2-1 system.

That lack of regular action has damaged his hopes of playing at a World Cup for the first time in his career, having been selected but not used by Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2006 aged just 16 before Fabio Capello overlooked him four years later in South Africa.

Walcott has played three times under Gareth Southgate but was last called up in November 2016 and admitted he has not recently spoken to the current England boss.

However, the forward believes his experience could prove vital in Russia and when asked how prominent next summer’s World Cup was in his thinking, Walcott told Standard Sport: “Of course. That is why I need to be playing football, simple as that. But I need to deserve to be playing.

“So in this competition, cup games, Premier League when given the chance, I need to take it. That is the only chance I have to get back into the England squad.

“It is down to hard work. If I work harder than anyone else… I know my qualities, how good I am. I have got so much experience under my belt, there’s no reason why I can’t prove people wrong and get back in that squad. It is a very young squad and I feel like maybe a bit of experience is always handy coming into tournaments. But the manager picks that.

“As a player, you need to be doing it on the field first and foremost. That’s what I want to do. We’ll see where my football takes me.”

Walcott, who has amassed 47 England caps over an 11-year period, admitted he has found life on the sidelines difficult to take in recent months, having gradually fallen out of favour after starting last season by scoring 11 goals before Christmas.

“I can’t lie, it has obviously been very difficult the way the season has started, compared to last season,” he said.

“I had such a big influence last year and the amount of goals I scored but now it has been a bit of a stuttering start to the season. But, I am focused, I am working hard as best I can do.

“There are opportunities for me in this competition at this moment in time. I am working hard in training, doing all the things on and off the field right, trying to look after myself, keep in shape as best I can, and be ready when the manager calls upon me.

Walcott hasn't played for England since 2016
Getty Images

“But I want to be in that Premier League team, simple as that. I want to play football. I enjoy playing in any competition. I am getting on now – 28 is not actually that old but in a football sense, maybe – but I want to play. I have obviously missed it. If I can express myself in any competition I am involved in, I am going to do it.

“The manager knows that I’ve always been there for him. I have managed to bounce back from worse things but it is just one of those things in football you have got to deal with. I am dealing with it in the right way and that’s to be complete focused. That’s all I can be.”