Theo Walcott is hoping his recent performances will see him used in a central role for club and country in the future.
Flying winger would prefer to operate down the middle
Theo Walcott is hoping his recent performances will see him used in a central role for club and country in the not-too-distant future.
The Arsenal and England forward burst onto the scene at Southampton as a striker, leading the Gunners to snap him up at the age of 17.
He has, however, been pushed into a wider role during his time at the Emirates, with Arsene Wenger of the opinion that he was too lightweight to operate down the middle.
Walcott is now 22 and a player who can boast considerable Premier League, European and international experience.
He feels that he is now ready to be unleashed as a goal-getter, rather than a goal-provider.
Unnatural
Wenger has history when it comes to converting wide-men into world-class strikers, with Thierry Henry having been moulded into the player he is today during his time with the Gunners.
Walcott is hoping to tread a similar path, with it his intention to make it impossible for Wenger, and possibly Fabio Capello, to pick him in any other position.
"I'm not a natural winger," he said. "I was bought as a striker.
"If you are on the flanks you have to make the runs anyway. You can't stay quiet on the wings and Arsenal are not the sort of team who will cross it anyway, we try and walk it into the net.
"I am not demanding anything. I will play anywhere for club and country.
"But hopefully if I keep on putting it out there with the manager, it will come. I would love it if it happens."
