Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes the club’s new-look attack has brought out the best in Theo Walcott this season.
The England internatonal has shown some of the form of his career for the Gunners so far this term, scoring 8 goals in his first ten games – just one shy of his total tally from 2015/16.
Mourinho explains Mkhitaryan's absence for Manchester United's clash with Fenerbahce Walcott certainly looks to __have benefited from a reshuffled front line by manager Arsene Wenger, who made the bold call in pre-season to move winger Alexis Sanchez into the centre-forward role.
Replacing the sluggish Olivier Giroud in that position, Sanchez has helped make Arsenal click more, and in Keown’s view is a major reason behind Walcott’s own improvement.
‘I think Theo has suffered for some time because Arsenal haven’t had a centre forward who can make runs in behind the defence,’ Keown said in a question-and-answer session with the Daily Mail.
‘Olivier Giroud certainly has his merits, but the build-up play is slow when he plays up front. He’s not going to beat a man like Sanchez does, so the wide men __have to run from deep to get around the opposition.
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‘It’s hard work and is also less likely to pay dividends than having your centre forward running in behind to stretch the play. The way they are playing this season gives Theo little time to think and forces him to play with instinct.
‘With Sanchez and Ozil both bombing forward around him, it allows him to join in and do what he does best.’
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