Theo Walcott has 11 goals in 11 starts... the forward's strike rate shows why he CAN be the centre of attention at Arsenal

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Eight years have passed since Theo Walcott's hat-trick in Zagreb and it remains no clearer if he is a prolific centre forward or a flying winger with a decent goal return.

As he returns to the scene of his finest hour with Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, Arsene Wenger is promoting his qualities up front, while Walcott accepts the value of his versatility.

It used to be the other way round. Wenger always offered him hope as the heir to Thierry Henry but kept him out wide, where Walcott would gnash his teeth and long to play through the middle.

Theo Walcott celebrates after netting for Arsenal against Stoke City at the Emirates on Saturday

Walcott can be used as a centre forward or a winger and Arsenal have been searching for strikers lately

Walcott has learned the value of diplomacy. 

'I can play in any of those three positions up front,' he said. 'The manager has shown belief and I want to repay that faith. If I'm given more opportunities to play up front hopefully I'll score many, many more goals.'

He was 19 when selected ahead of David Beckham on the right by Fabio Capello in Zagreb. He responded in style. England needed hope and he was it.

Capello hailed him as the nation's most valuable asset but opportunities to develop through the centre were limited. For a time, injuries and Robin van Persie got in the way. As he returns to the Maksimir Stadium Walcott, now 26, has never been closer to that coveted role for Arsenal. And his goal rate backs his claim.

There was a first-half hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion on the final day of last season. There were two for England in San Marino.

There could have been many more against Stoke on Saturday, but he scored the first in a 2-0 win and the expertly taken finish was his 11th in his last 11 Premier League starts.

This scoring streak stretches back 20 months, a reminder of his prolific form before he suffered a serious knee injury in January 2014.

Wenger will alternate him and Olivier Giroud — scorer of Arsenal's second against Stoke after replacing Walcott — through the middle with Danny Welbeck injured.

Walcott scored a hat-trick in Zagreb eight years ago for England and is pictured here celebrating

Walcott was 19 when selected ahead of David Beckham on the right by Fabio Capello in Zagreb

'Theo has an eye for goal and a short back-lift that is common for top scorers,' said Wenger. 'He gets in good little pockets. The quality of his reception in the box is top. He is the whole player. You become an instinctive finisher once you have bags of goals behind you. He needs a few more goals to do that more spontaneously.

'I like him as a centre forward. I don't say he will never play as a winger any more but considering our situation he will be more through the middle in the coming months.'

Wenger, meanwhile, has revealed how Per Mertesacker was laid up in bed for 18 days. Mertesacker has missed the last three Arsenal games with a virus and a bad chest infection.

The German centre half will not travel to Croatia, but hopes to be back in contention for Saturday's clash with Chelsea. 'He had a chest infection, a viral thing,' said Wenger. 'It was a serious condition and he is not ready today to play. By the end of next week he should be much better.' 

Walcott has never been closer to the coveted role of acting as centre forward for Arsenal than now

Wenger will alternate Walcott and Olivier Giroud (pictured) through the middle with Danny Welbeck injured