Football
ESPN staff 8y

Arsenal's Theo Walcott using aggression to make it as a striker

Arsenal's Theo Walcott has revealed the words of advice from Arsene Wenger and Thierry Henry that helped him become a central striker.

Walcott, 26, has been at Arsenal for almost 10 years but for most of that time has operated as a winger. Now he is getting the chance to play in his preferred role as a striker.

The former Southampton player, who is on England duty ahead of the final Euro 2016 qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania, has revealed how he has had to change his game to produce form of 14 goals in 16 games as a striker.

He has put his success down to a more aggressive style, which was encouraged by Wenger.

"That was one of the questions Arsene wanted me to do -- to be more aggressive on the pitch," Walcott told the Daily Telegraph. "And maybe he's sensed that I've had more aggression [recently].

"When you are tracking back and tackling people like [Bastian] Schweinsteiger [vs. Manchester United] people wouldn't imagine that Theo Walcott is going to tackle Schweinsteiger -- 'No, it's never going to happen.'

"I actually said [to Wenger], 'Do you want me to start kicking people?' That was my first reaction. He said, 'No, I'm not saying that.' Again he wanted me to be more aggressive in terms of running at players, closing them down, tracking back, being there and in their faces."

On Henry's influence, he said: "I have been chatting to him on a personal level behind the scenes as well to learn things from him. It is a great tool to have in the locker ... he's [coaching] with the under-18s and, at times, I think some of them don't even know who he is!

"I've had quite a few words with him about some of the games I've played. He has just given me his analysis and if I've needed to ask him some questions about it, he's always there.

"That's what coaches are there for. I think sometimes you see this generation of players -- they're actually scared to go up to coaches and ask something.

"I think I've learnt, over the years, not to be afraid to ask because they're there to help you. I think that's one thing I missed maybe a couple of years ago... I can see this generation of players coming through now starting to learn that. I think Thierry is trying to get into their system."

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