• Premier League

Theo eyes 'dream' RvP pairing

ESPN staff
April 11, 2012
Walcott would love to join Van Persie up front for the Gunners © Getty Images
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Theo Walcott is keen to prove that he can be more aggressive for Arsenal in the hope that Arsene Wenger will pair him up front with Robin van Persie next season.

Walcott, whose recent run of form has coincided with the Gunners' run of eight wins in their last nine matches to regain third place in the Premier League, admits he is still learning to play as a winger in Wenger's side but has not given up on a return to a more attacking role alongside the Dutchman.

"I would like to be more aggressive in matches and the manager has said that to me," Walcott told the Evening Standard. "Not by kicking people but by running at players. That's the main improvement I need to make. When I play my best football, I am aggressive and not afraid of getting hurt. I am not afraid to put a foot in and that's what he wants.

"I set myself a target and always say three successful crosses and a couple of shots in a game and that's good. If you get a corner, it's an end product for the team, the same with free-kicks, anything like that. You don't want to be scared of your full-back, you want him to be on his back foot wondering what he is going to do next and when I'm playing well, that's what happens."

Walcott has had to adjust to life as a winger under Wenger, with comparisons often made to the way the Frenchman utilised Thierry Henry in his early days at Arsenal before deploying the club's record scorer as a striker.

But while he has made no secret of his desire to follow in Henry's footsteps, the 24-year-old is happy to stay put with the Gunners yet to secure a Champions League berth and a league finish ahead of rivals Tottenham.

"You don't want to change the formation at this stage of the season when you are fighting for third," he said. "People forget I am a striker and I'm learning the right-wing trade more and more. I want to play up front but I am not the sort of player to play up there on my own. I need a big man with me. That's not the way we play at Arsenal so we'll see.

"I am not the sort of player who likes to tell the manager I want to play up front and argue why it isn't happening. You can't change the system now but hopefully it'll happen next year.

"I love scoring goals - that's what I want to do. To play with Robin up front would be a dream. We link well together and I think we could form a great partnership."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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