Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger eager to see Theo Walcott join their already speedy attack

Arsene Wenger has not lost his imagination even after hitting his 65th birthday, and passing 18 years in charge of Arsenal.

Some might argue that the latter part of his reign has been propped up with too much fantasising about the potential of his side.

Believing they are one player from really clicking.

Imagining how close they are to being the perfect footballing team.

And after a dominant performance saw off ­Sunderland - the Londoners' first win in four league games - Wenger was pondering the imminent return of Theo Walcott from his January knee injury.

Would pairing the lightning-quick England man with Alexis Sanchez, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain give him a ­frightening attack? Could he lift them from fifth place, to even loftier peaks?

“Yes, my imagination works like yours,” Wenger said. “But I have to prove it works on the pitch and that is what I will try to do when everybody is back.”

With the droll tone of a sage, Wenger added: “Let’s see. The imagination does not always become reality in our job, so we are a bit cautious.”

Arsenal supporters will know exactly what he means.

This was a nondescript victory, impossible to judge what it meant for the Gunners.

They had loads of possession, used it well and toyed with confidence-shorn Sunderland, who were still shaking off the torment of last weekend's 8-0 defeat at Southampton.

Arsenal should have scored more, and needed two terrible errors from Wes Brown and Vito Mannone to gift Sanchez their goals.

And so to Walcott’s return.

He was on the bench here for the first time since his injury, but his only action was limited to the warm-up and a post-match running session.

Wenger said: “I am very happy he is with us, but he has had 10 months out. I have to find a way of bringing him back slowly over the next three or four weeks.

“Theo’s runs off the ball are always fantastic and he gives you hope that we will score goals. And the pace we have in the side when he comes back will be very interesting - Walcott is quick, Chamberlain is quick, so we can be very good in transition.”

Struggling Burnley at home next Saturday would appear to be a decent comeback game for Walcott.

Bedraggled Sunderland are in for another long relegation fight.

Blighted again this season by individual errors, their squad also lacks the class of other Premier League sides.

Manager Gus Poyet is unsure whether the Wearside club are any better off now than they were in the dark days of a year ago.

He said: “That is a great point and I agree with you. From last year, the team that started against Arsenal here, seven players are not at the club any more. Seven. Do you want to know which ones? Westwood, Celustka, Roberge, Diakite, Jack Colback, Ki, Borini – they are not here. Eight of the starting 11 of Arsenal are in their squad.

Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal in pictures:

"We have had to start all the way from zero again. How can you have a consistency, of ­understanding the game and a mentality of passing, if you are starting afresh every year? You are always catching up.

“Three weeks ago, we were complaining about no wins in the league. We won that game – which was apparently the most important thing for the season – and then the next two matches were the worst of the season.”

So have you improved, Gus?

“I thought until last week we were a difficult team to play against. But you can’t get away from the mistakes. We have conceded too many own goals, we are still conceding too many own goals and we are still making too many individual mistakes.

“So, no, that part of the game hasn’t improved at all. It is still there, it is inside the club, the group or whatever you call it and that is something I haven’t improved. My mistake, I accept responsibility. So it is up to you to judge."

Well, the judgement so far, can only be that Sunderland will continue to struggle.