Walcott: ‘It was like we’d won the World Cup Final’

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The Gunners beat Roma 7-6 in a penalty shootout to reach the Champions League quarter-finals after losing 1-0 in 120 tense minutes at a raucous Stadio Olimpico.

Arsene Wenger's side have often been accused of a lack of fight in tough matches but Walcott says last night's result can reignite a bid for their first silverware since the 2005 FA Cup. "For such a young team who haven't experienced it to win on penalties just shows the character we have got in the whole side," added the 19-year-old. "You should have been in the dressing room after the game — it was like we had just won the World Cup Final.

"The atmosphere is brilliant, even though there are all sorts of nationalities in there, we all get along and we're like family. They are just a brilliant bunch of lads to play with. We seem to have had our bad spell and now hopefully we can have a good one and push for those Champions League spots.

"But the main thing is now Saturday and the Premier League. We have to concentrate on that and forget about this."

Walcott took the third penalty in the shootout and revealed he took his inspiration from former Southampton team-mate James Beattie. "It was my first penalty shootout," he said. "I had a dry throat going towards the goal but I didn't look at the keeper once. I learned that from James Beattie. He's one of the best penalty takers I've seen.

"I didn't want to look at the keeper because sometimes they might put you off a little bit."
The night was marred prior to kick-off when a coach carrying Arsenal supporters was attacked by a group of Roma fans.

Several windows were smashed and a flare was let off inside the bus before one supporter was stabbed in the knee.

Two other fans suffered head injuries in incidents outside the ground.