Theo Walcott told Sky Sports News he believes Arsenal are good enough to challenge for honours.
Arsenal winger insists current crop are good enough to challenge
Theo Walcott told
Sky Sports News that he believes the current Arsenal squad are good enough to challenge for honours this term.
The England international is in contention for his first appearance of the season against Fulham at the weekend after being sidelined with a back injury so far this term.
The injury has meant the 20-year-old has had to watch his team-mates from the stands and he has been impressed with how the Gunners have started the season, especially summer signing Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsenal could also welcome back Andrey Arshavin for the trip to Craven Cottage as Walcott sets his sights on lifting some silverware come May.
"We have kept players," he explained. "If you keep a group of players it will hopefully establish you to win trophies.
"I think this year we have had the experience of reaching the semi-final of the Champions League and we just need to go that one step further.
"We need to bring something back for the fans because they have been very patient."
Characters
Walcott was quick to praise the impact of Vermaelen and Arshavin and was delighted that the Belgian had already proven his critics, who dubbed the centre-half too small, wrong.
"They are great characters in the dressing room," he added.
"The amount of goals they are both getting I don't think anyone would expect Vermaelen to get at the moment.
"He is so comfortable on the ball and he has got a leap on him and that's what people were worried about at first because he is not the tallest.
"He can win headers against anyone, he is very strong and he looks like he has been at the club for years he has settled in that back four perfectly.
"It's the same for Andrey, it will be great to see him back on that pitch because he has had his injury problems as well, so I think with a full strength Arsenal team we will be fine."
The former Southampton youngster insists he is feeling no ill effects of his back problem but is wary that he cannot expect to walk straight back into the team.
"I've trained all week, hopefully I will play some part at the weekend and then we will go from there," he highlighted.
"I'm not looking too far ahead. I'm looking at the weekend and if I put in a good performance I might get a start on Tuesday, but it's a good Arsenal team to get in at the moment so I've got to train well and see where it takes me."
