With the 2016 additions of Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny, places are getting harder to come by in the Arsenal midfield.
However, it seems Theo Walcott has his eyes set on that challenge, after revealing he wants to be known as a right-winger rather than a striker from now on.
Last year the 27-year-old vowed to challenge Olivier Giroud for a spot up top, claiming he could become a “20 goal a season” player following his opening striker in the FA Cup final.
Walcott’s comments aren’t surprising though, with heavy links to both Riyad Mahrez and Julian Draxler threatening his position on the flank, but he’s now promised Wenger that’s where his best abilities lie.
I want to make my position on the right – that’s where I know I am now. I’ve told the manager that I want to be known for playing on the right again, although I can play up front.
I want to know where I want to play. The manager has said I can play up front. It depends what game it is. I know I can do a job up front as well as on the right.
I have been here for 10 years. There is always competition for places. It doesn’t matter what club you are at. I always believe that I can get back to where I want to be.
I’m sure if I keep working hard then I will get there.
But following a dismal campaign that saw him replaced by Alex Iwobi and subsequently miss out on a place in Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the Euro’s, things never turned out that way.
Instead, Arsene Wenger put his faith in the likes of Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck to lead the line up top, a job they did with a heavy heart grabbing 29 goals between them. Download the Betfair mobile app for android to keep up to date with the latest goalscorer odds.
It was another season where Walcott stood back in the shadows of others and when given chance after chance to perform ultimately let the manager and the fans down.
Just over one week remains until the new campaign kicks off and already there are question marks over whether or not Walcott deserves a place in the squad, let alone the starting XI.
Earlier in the summer Walcott had been linked with a £25million move to West Ham, but nothing materialised and it looks like he will stay at Arsenal.
We’ve had a chance to see whether the England star has bounced back from his poor form during pre-season but the early signs aren’t good.
Not only did he struggle to get into the game, but hiding behind defenders forced Wenger to swap him for Chuba Akpom, who managed to bag two goals in their three games.
With Giroud and Welbeck still missing Walcott will undoubtedly get another chance during Arsenal’s trip to Scandinavia this weekend, but with Alexandre Lacazette on the verge of a move to the Gunners, who will start up top on the opening day of the Premier League?
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