English Premier League: Walcott tells Arsenal to step on the gas

Gunners hope to end losing streak against West Ham tonight.

LONDON: Theo Walcott has warned his Arsenal team-mates they are in danger of losing the battle to finish in the Premier League’s top four unless they play with more urgency.

Arsene Wenger’s side head into tonight’s London derby against West Ham on the back of successive league defeats to Manchester City and Chelsea which have left their bid to qualify for the Champions League in crisis.

The Gunners, languishing in sixth spot, trail fourth placed Tottenham by seven points and sit 11 points adrift of third placed Chelsea.

Walcott, who scored in Sunday’s 2-1 loss at Chelsea, agrees with Wenger that Arsenal have played too timidly in recent weeks and he called on the players to show more aggression and desire.

“There are a lot of teams that have got stronger this year, so we need to step on the gas,” said Walcott. “We don’t want to be playing catch-up. We want to get points on the board.

“We have a tough game at home against West Ham so we need to be ready. It is a massive game for us.

“We have been hot and cold at home of late so we must be very positive and if we show the commitment that we did in the second half against Chelsea, we should be fine.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 23^rd, 2013.