For Arsenal’s Theo Walcott ‘it clicked about going up front’ when he embraced aggression

Theo Walcott says Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger 'wanted me to be more aggressive in terms of running at players, closing them down, tracking back, being there and in their faces'.

Theo Walcott acknowledges supporters after his team's win over Manchester United in the Premier League last weekend. Carl Recine / Action Images / Reuters / October 4, 2015

The English nation will have two Frenchman to thank if Theo Walcott carries his domestic form into the international arena and takes Euro 2016 by storm.

After years of pleading, Walcott finally persuaded Arsene Wenger to play him as Arsenal's main striker towards the end of last term and the results were encouraging.

The 26-year-old scored a hat-trick against West Bromwich Albion and then netted in Arsenal’s FA Cup final win over Aston Villa. The former Southampton player has hit the ground running this term, scoring four goals in his first seven matches and providing plenty of assists for his teammates too.

Walcott now feels he is starting to carve out a reputation as a leading striker – and he feels Wenger and Thierry Henry must take plenty of credit for his transformation.

Wenger instilled a more aggressive streak into the forward and youth coach Henry has been imparting advice to the player at the club’s training ground in Hertfordshire too.

Walcott revealed some of the youth players at Arsenal do not know who Henry is, but the 41-cap forward is well aware of the Frenchman’s scoring exploits and is therefore keen to take any of his advice on board.

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“Thierry is with the Under 18s and at times I think some of them don’t even know who he is,” Walcott said of Arsenal’s record goal scorer.

“I’ve had quite a few words with him behind the scenes about some of the games I’ve played. He has just given me his analysis on myself and if I’ve needed to ask him some questions about it, he’s always there.

“I’ve learned over the years not to be afraid to ask because they’re there to help you.

“I think that’s one thing I missed maybe a couple of years ago. I thought: ‘I need to know something here’.”

Henry, who scored 228 goals for Arsenal, joined the coaching staff this summer and Walcott has been impressed by the Frenchman’s coaching skills.

“We just speak at the training ground, just in a room with a TV and the games. That’s all we do,” he said.

“He’s got all the attributes to become a great manager.”

Walcott has only made double figures in three of his nine years at Arsenal, but if he continues at his current rate, he stands a good chance of breaking his best tally of 21, which came three years ago.

Walcott believes some key advice from Wenger also helped him hit the ground running this season.

“It clicked about going up front when Arsene told me he wanted me to be more aggressive on the pitch,” Walcott added.

“I actually said ‘do you want me to start kicking people?’ That was my first reaction. He said ‘no, I’m not saying that’.

“He wanted me to be more aggressive in terms of running at players, closing them down, tracking back, being there and in their faces.”

With Wayne Rooney a serious injury doubt, Roy Hodgson could ask Walcott to lead the line for his country for the first time on Friday when England host Estonia in their penultimate Euro 2016 qualifier.

The Arsenal forward hopes he is up to the challenge if asked to play in that position.

“I have had to wait my time. It has been well documented that I have wanted to play up front and Arsene has given me the opportunity which is great,” Walcott said.

“The next stage is to bring it to England.”

Walcott is eager to make an impression at the European Championship next summer after missing the World Cup last year because of a serious knee injury.

“It took me a while to get back to where I wanted to be, but to be fair I am probably in a better place than I have ever been,” he said.

“The injury was a blessing in disguise. My little boy, Finley, was born and I was there to be able to help (wife) Mel out.

“The injury is in the past, I am fit and healthy and looking after myself.”

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