Source: Team_Talk
Walcott feels as 'sharp as ever'
Walcott had come in for criticism following a subdued display in the midweek international friendly against Egypt at Wembley - with former England winger Chris Waddle claiming he "doesn't understand the game".[LNB]However, the Gunners youngster, who turns 21 later this month, produced the perfect response on the pitch which was capped with a fine goal in the 3-1 win.[LNB]"I have had so many injuries this season, people don't realise how hard it is to come back from setbacks after setbacks after setbacks," said the former Southampton trainee.[LNB]"You can't be at your best straight away and if you think you can, then you put more pressure on yourself. That's what I had been doing this season."[LNB]Walcott continued: "I heard what has been going on and what he [Waddle] said, but I don't listen to people on the outside of football.[LNB]"I listen to people around me - the boss [Arsene Wenger], Mr Capello, my family and the people around me.[LNB]"I have got fantastic people who look after me. I am very level headed and keep my feet on the ground.[LNB]"The best thing is I do know what's going on on the outside, but I don't listen to it, I only listen to people around me.[LNB]"It's doesn't bother me whatsoever - maybe if I keep performing like that it will shut people up."[LNB]Walcott, though, is not about to rest on his laurels.[LNB]He added: "Hopefully this is a kickstart for me, but I am not going to get carried away or too big about myself.[LNB]"I will look back at my performance and see what I can do better.[LNB]"I will study my performance on a DVD and see what I can do better, and will take whatever I can into Tuesday's [Champions League] game against Porto."[LNB]Walcott confronted Burnley defender Daniel Fox after a sliding challenge during the first half, with memories of Aaron Ramsey's broken leg last weekend at Stoke still fresh in the Arsenal players' minds.[LNB]The Arsenal forward, though, revealed there were no lasting ill feeling.[LNB]"At times it is difficult to focus after seeing Aaron injured like that," he said.[LNB]"In the game, there was a challenge on me and I probably overreacted.[LNB]"That was because of past events. In the heat of the moment, I just showed my emotions.[LNB]"We have had a lot of injuries this season, myself included, and we want to do it for all the injured players - especially Aaron."[LNB]Walcott, who joined Arsenal in a big-money move when still only 16 during January 2006, found himself thrust into the spotlight when he was a controversial inclusion in Sven-Goran Eriksson's World Cup squad despite not having featured for the Gunners first team.[LNB]The young forward feels he has come a long way in a short space of time.[LNB]"My development has gone very well. I am only 20 still and I have been in the limelight all the time," he said.[LNB]"As a young player, you normally do your development in the background and build yourself up, but the World Cup 2006 call-up shot the pressure on me straight away.[LNB]"I dealt with that quite well, but hopefully I can just get all these injuries out the way and concentrate on a very important run-in."[LNB]Walcott added: "The thing is I am always the country's biggest hope or the country's biggest disappointment.[LNB]"You set standards for yourself and you want to be as good as you can every single game, but sometimes it doesn't go your way.[LNB]"Now, I have had experience, I played in the Under-21s and played in the Premier League.[LNB]"There is definitely more to come from me, but those experiences will now move me on to great things."[LNB]Arsenal moved level on points with Chelsea, who have now played a match more, following what was a fourth straight league victory.[LNB]Manchester United are two points clear after they won at Wolves, but Walcott knows there is a lot of football left in the title race.[LNB]"Of course we believed we could get back into the title race and we have shown that lately," he said.[LNB]"It is a funny season, everyone is beating each other - but we have shown that belief and hopefully that will remain for the whole season now."[LNB][LNB] Arsenal 8/13, Draw 13/5, Porto 4/1
