• Premier League

Walcott craving central role

ESPN staff
January 31, 2013
Theo Walcott has scored 18 goals so far this season © Getty Images
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Theo Walcott has expressed his desire to play in a central striker role following Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Liverpool at the Emirates on Wednesday evening.

Walcott scored for a fourth consecutive match as the Gunners clawed back a two-goal deficit to earn a point against the Reds.

The forward has now netted 18 times in all competitions and believes he has earned the right to lead Arsenal's attack from now on.

"You must play to your strengths and if you are against slow centre-backs, play me," Walcott is quoted as saying in The Sun. "I think the manager knows what's best for the team, I do as well. Arsene Wenger has shown that faith in me and given me the chance to play up front recently.

"Hopefully I've shown him something Arsenal haven't had in recent years. In the long term I want to be a striker but it won't happen overnight."

Walcott and Olivier Giroud scored two goals in the three minutes in the second-half to earn Arsenal a share of the spoils, keeping them three points clear of seventh-placed Liverpool.

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