Football
Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent 8y

Arsenal's Theo Walcott vows to get back to best form in new season

Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has said he will "definitely" be back on top form this season as he said he would be willing to accept a place on the right wing.

Walcott was left out of England's Euro 2016 squad after failing to cement a place as a central striker for the Gunners last season and spending much of the spring on the bench.

The England international said during the team's preseason tour of the United States that he wanted to return to the wing.

Asked in a Sky Sports interview about whether he hoped he could do that, he said: "Very true. But the manager will pick his best team that's going to beat the opposition.

"If it's me up front or me on the right, as long as I am performing well and training well, that will justify the team."

Walcott said he had held "a lot of conversations" with manager Arsene Wenger about where he wanted to play.

"It's all down to hard work," he added. "I have to work hard in training, make sure I'm at it every day, and be the best on the pitch when I can be.

"That's what I want to do -- I want to get the best out of myself. And I think it will definitely happen this year."

Wenger said on Saturday that he still views Walcott primarily as a striker because he does not have the defensive qualities required of wingers today.

But he played him on the wing in the second half of Sunday's 3-2 friendly win over Manchester City, in which the former Southampton man scored.

"I've said many times that we will get a strong season from Theo Walcott because he got hit hard and I saw how he responded," Wenger told Arsenal's official website.

"He went through a very tough time not being at the Euros with England, and I observed him, saw how he responded and am convinced that he will have a great season."

He indicated that, with Olivier Giroud set to miss the opening game of the season against Liverpool on Sunday, Alexis Sanchez would play through the middle.

"We had a good combination with him [Walcott] on the right and Alexis up front," the Frenchman added.

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