Source: Daily_Mail
Theo Walcott pleads with Arsenal boss: Don't turn me into a supersub
Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has pleaded with Arsene Wenger to hand him more starts after expressing fears he is turning into an impact super-sub for his club. [LNB]Walcott was once again required to come off the bench against Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday and made his presence felt by putting Arsenal ahead with a cool finish six minutes after being introduced to help them qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 3-1 victory. [LNB]The occasion marked 21-year-old Walcott's 150th appearance for Arsenal in almost five years since joining from Southampton. [LNB] Making his mark: Walcott scores six minutes after coming on[LNB]Undoubtedly that figure would have been higher had Walcott not been plagued by injury but it is the fact that he has started just 68 of those games that will concern Walcott. [LNB]If his 12 starts in the Carling Cup are taken away, the situation becomes even gloomier for Walcott in terms of making Wenger's starting XI and his frustration is beginning to show. [LNB]'As a substitute you want to make an impact,' said Walcott of his latest appearance from the bench. [LNB]Enlarge 'But I want to play now, I want to be starting games being 21. I wanted to show the boss what I could do and he probably has a headache now, for Monday's game against Manchester United. So fingers crossed.' [LNB]Walcott certainly has a case regarding his claims for a place in the starting line-up, even if Wenger is unlikely to be reaching for the painkillers. [LNB]In his three Barclays Premier League starts this season, Walcott has scored on four occasions, while in five substitute appearances he has yet to find the net. The pattern was repeated last season with two of his three Premier League goals coming when he started the game. Indeed, the statistics show that in terms of goalscoring for Arsenal, Walcott does his best work when he starts. [LNB]Looking ahead to the trip to Old Trafford, Walcott said: 'These are the games you always want to play in.I have never started at Old Trafford so it could be another milestone for me. [LNB]It is always frustrating being on thebench. Ask any player, it is not just me. But it comes to the point when you do not want to dwell on it all the time. You just want to come off the bench, show what you can do and try and get back in the team.[LNB] 'This season, I have come back and the team has been playing well and winning so it is difficult to get back into the team as there is no reason to change it. That is understandable but it is frustrating. Hopefully against Partizan I have shown what I can do.' [LNB]Unfortunately for Walcott his Champions League cameo is unlikely to be enough to earn him a starting place at Old Trafford as Wenger appears to have decided his England international is best used as an impact player. [LNB]Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas has hinted that he may make return against United after injuring his hamstring two weeks ago.[LNB] He told Twitter: 'Training, training and more training. Hopefully I'll be available for Monday.' [LNB]Wenger confirmed that the ankle injury to defender Kieran Gibbs is not as serious as originally feared and will only keep him sidelined for about three weeks. [LNB] Big return: Injured Cesc Fabregas has hinted he could play at Old Trafford[LNB]The 21-year-old left-back sustained only minor damage when he slipped during the first half of the over Partizan Belgrade, even though he was carried off in considerable pain. [LNB]Wenger hopes England international Gibbs, who suffered a metatarsal injury last year which kept him out for the rest of the season, will soon be back in action. [LNB]'We think that he will be out for three weeks,' Wenger said. [LNB]'I am very disappointed. I hope it will not put in his mind that he is an injured player. It was just an accident and you cannot do anything about it. Time will help him get over that.' [LNB] Gibbs out for three weeks with ankle injury sustained in Partizan victoryMalaga prepare bid for unsettled Arsenal goalkeeper AlmuniaArsenal target Sakho signs new deal with PSG but could still quit in summerARSENAL FC
