Tonight:
5°c
Theo Walcott has claimed Arsenal's dramatic victory at Liverpool proves the Gunners are "no pushovers" in the Premier League title race and that they can mount a serious challenge without injured Robin van Persie.
Arsene Wenger's side came from behind to win 2-1 at Anfield as a Glen Johnson own goal and Andrey Arshavin's superb strike overturned Dirk Kuyt's first-half effort.
Arsenal now sit in third place just six points behind leaders Chelsea with a game in hand after a favourable set of results and Walcott believes Van Persie's five-month absence following ankle surgery will not stop his team-mates
"Results like this show we are no pushovers," said the 20-year-old. "Being 1-0 down at Anfield, it is a hostile place but we showed great spirit to come back and win.
"We wanted to give something back to the fans because they were fantastic for us. We believe we can mount a challenge without Robin. He is such a big player for us - he has scored so many important goals for us and his stature up front scares defenders.
"He will be an unbelievable miss but we have got people like Andrey coming in to fill the gaps and he is fantastic as well. He will definitely clock up plenty of goals. It is fantastic to see but hopefully we can get our injured players back sooner rather than later.
"It is great to get these three points and gradually get closer to Chelsea and Manchester United. We have a game in hand coming up but we must look to Wednesday's game at Burnley now and aim to get the three points and we will be right there at the end of the season."
Arshavin led the line in place of Van Persie for the second successive Premier League and won the match with a 20-yard effort on the same ground where he had scored four times as Arsenal drew 4-4 back in April.
"We have got so many attacking players and Andrey has done it yet again," said Walcott. "If you put him in those positions, he is always going to put it away.
"He just seems to be relaxed [at Anfield]. There is always a smile on his face when he is playing and to get a goal was very well deserved. You put any goalkeeper in that and he is never going to save that.
"When you play in that central role, you have got to be strong, hold the ball up well and get other players involved. Andrey especially did that in the second half."
Captain Cesc Fabregas revealed that the usually reserved Wenger blasted his players at half-time. "He told us we did not deserve to wear the Arsenal shirt," said the Spaniard.
Walcott added: "None of us was happy with the first half. We were 1-0 down and hadn't played well. We like to keep things in the dressing room to ourselves.
"The boss just showed his passion for the game and that he has belief in us. Coming in at the end of the game and getting a round of applause from the boss showed that we listened to him.
"We don't like to reflect things out in the open but it woke us up and that's what you have got to do as a manager. It worked."
Reader views (9)
If it is Theo making these comments in the media, he would be better off NOT speaking and producing more results on the field, as a way of proving his worth and that of the team...."Talk Is Cheap!"..deliver results and be proved at the end of the season. You will get much more respect that way!
- Ryan, London, London, 15/12/2009 12:05
Report abuse
when you look at the sharp fiscal eye of arsene and the board, then compare with the boodle both available and already spent by other premiership clubs fighting for glory, then as an arsenaal fan you have to be both grateful and understanding of the situation, or as a neutral fan has to at least have admiration.
if arsenal fail to lift the premiership trophy this season, and it`s pretty certain they will still be in the top 4, then its won`t be for lack of management skill, far from it,it will be more down to great management magic.
again, if arsenal manages to win big trophies,europe for example (and why not, no team has a divine right!), then in a couple of years down the line, arsene may break his golden rule and bid at the top, for the top players. all in all, a football team, along with mr rice and all the backroom staff, who i believe deserve all the praise they recieve as skilled professionals.
it`s not easy to forecast who will becoe the shareholder wit the most clout, but who ever it is, they will have to respect the arsenal tradition, and allow the clubs individuality to keep on shining through,
- Michael Carro, london, 14/12/2009 23:17
Report abuse
Of course you can Theo......outplayed in every deparment and should have been 3-0 down until an own goal changed the face of the game.
- Manila_Spur, Manila, 14/12/2009 15:15
Report abuse
As an Arsenal fan, I am becoming really irate with Walcott.
He does all his talking in the media and hypes himself up, and delivers NOTHING on the pitch; he is so pathetic he can nowadays not pass the defenders even more than a couple of times during a match.
So much reminds you of Bentley and Pennant! People like Walcott and Almunia deserve no more patience from the fans!
- Mark, Guildford, 14/12/2009 13:26
Report abuse
It was an enthralling and big victory which was badly needed to restore our belief and confidence after the Chelsea debacle. There has always been no doubt in most minds that Arsenal on their night with a fit squad can beat any team in the League and in Europe. However, the difference between a top 4 finish and winning the league is "consistency" and to achieve that, we need at least a first striker in the mould of RVP with Arshavin in tandem and so far, Wenger has hinted that much which would point to an interesting climax to the season.
- Riyad Mcdoom, Guyana, South America, 14/12/2009 13:18
Report abuse
An excellent result and showed real character coming from behind. Well done Mr Wenger and all the lads. The same attitude and focus must be applied now for a tough trip to Burnley on Wednesday. Up the Gunners!
- Sean, Cork, Ireland., 14/12/2009 12:15
Report abuse
Great result for Arsenal a really hard fought victory,congratulations to Mr Wenger and shame on all the Arsenal"fans" who were calling for him to be sacked last week.What a difference a week makes,last week Chelsea supporters were already crowning themselves champions,this season will go down to the wire with Arsenal,Chelsea and Man Utd,fighting it out.Dont write off this Arsenal team so early in the season there is a long way to go.There will be no easy games for the rest of the season for any team as the teams in mid table seem to have bridged the gap somewhat on the leaders,COME ON YOU GUNNERS......
- Jim Ex Pat,Islington N1, thailand, 14/12/2009 11:20
Report abuse
Beating Liverpool these days isn't what it was. Losing at home 3-0 to Chelsea showed the real gulf in performance.
- Peter Bench, London, 14/12/2009 10:33
Report abuse
We are happy for our victory Arsenal Guys feel struggling for the Cup of champion
- Tugans, Kigali Rwanda, 14/12/2009 10:23
Report abuse
