BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom: Theo Walcott has told his Arsenal team-mates they need to have loftier ambitions than just qualifying for the Champions League.
Arsene Wenger’s side will reclaim a top four position in the Premier League if they win at West Bromwich Albion today as London rivals Chelsea are not in action until the following day.
Wenger has made it clear he regards qualifying for the Champions League as a bigger achievement than winning a domestic cup, which the Gunners have not managed since their FA Cup final success over Manchester United in 2005.
Yet Arsenal supporters have been infuriated by the barren run and Walcott admits he is also tired of watching United, Chelsea and Manchester City finish on top of the pile.
Despite their inconsistent performances this season, England winger Walcott believes Arsenal have enough to quality to aim for first place next season rather than settling for a top four finish.
“There’s great potential there,” Walcott said.
Should Arsenal win at the Hawthorns today they will move above Chelsea, at least until the Champions League holders take on Sunderland on Sunday, and to within a point of Tottenham, who are also in action the following day, in third place.
Walcott is one of a number of Arsenal players who could miss the Albion game because of injury, with midfielder Jack Wilshere also sidelined. The England pair are back in training however and are likely to return for the visit of Norwich the following week.
Spanish left-back Nacho Monreal is available to play after he was hurt in a collision with a goal-post in last week’s 4-1 victory over Reading, a result that was Arsenal’s third straight victory.
That contrasted with just one win in the four games before those and Walcott has called for greater consistency in the coming months.
“We shouldn’t have to get a bad result and then perform well in the next game,” he said.
“It should always be there. It’s realising how we cope when we come back from those disappointing results.AFP
