Arsenal’s ‘Van Persie, Fabregas’ score to kill Walcott’s chances

Theo Walcott laid his claim for a centre-forward role, as this website had predicted.

Only to Theo’s bad luck, and Arsenal’s good luck, Olivier Giroud finally got his opening Premier League goal.

Olivier Giroud, the man bought in to replace Robin Van Persie showed his class (not too early, either) with a classy finish to cancel Mohamed Diame’s opener for West Ham.

That could and still probably will seal Walcott’s fate.

However, as Arsenal took charge of the game, it was once again all pretty boy football without the ruthless finish.

Then, as if to show Arsene Wenger what he meant when he wanted a central striking role, Walcott came on for Gervinho in the 61st minute and with 13 minutes left, Walcott took a Giroud pass and planted a cold, ruthless finish past Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Walcott then set up Arsenal’s ‘I’m-not-Fabregas’ Santi Cazorla to hit a third.

Arsenal beat West Ham 3-1.

After the game, Walcott said: “You have to be patient but it’s the perfect way to answer your critics. We have a very strong squad here and I’m just hoping to get a good run in the side.

“We know we want to be right up there at the end of the season and the way we came back showed we can definitely have a good push.”

Clearly not behind Podolski, Gervinho and Giroud in the current pecking order at the Emirates, Walcott is only going to drum up more interest from the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, maybe even Manchester United with such displays.

In fact, while Giroud has admitted the Van Persie pressure has got to him, Walcott says he wants the RVP role at Arsenal.

He may well get part of it – the part where RVP leaves the Gunners.

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