Source: Team_Talk
Walcott: It's time to push on
Theo Walcott accepts he is about to embark on a "massive season" - both with England and Arsenal.[LNB] The Gunners winger was recalled to Fabio Capello's new-look national team for the friendly against Hungary, having been a shock omission from the ill-fated World Cup squad.[LNB]Walcott, 21, produced a few trademark darts down the right flank during his first-half run-out - and set up fellow youngster Adam Johnson for an early chance which should have been buried.[LNB]Much was made of the reasons for Walcott not going to South Africa - from an Arsenal campaign plagued by injuries to simply not following Capello's orders during the final warm-up matches.[LNB]The former Southampton trainee knows his time is now.[LNB]"It is a massive season for me," Walcott declared. "After the disappointment of the summer, I know what I have to do.[LNB]"When something doesn't go well for you, just forget about it and move on to the next one. That is what I will do this season.[LNB]"I need to play as many games as I can for Arsenal, week-in week-out and show everyone what I can do.[LNB]"I am 21 now and it is time for me to push on. I am looking forward to the next step."[LNB]Walcott, who had been a shock inclusion by Sven-Goran Eriksson for his World Cup squad in Germany four years ago, added: "I had a word with him [Capello], but I would like to keep that to myself. I know what I have to do now.[LNB]"I have just had a very good pre-season, I am happy to be back playing football now and I want to show everybody what I can do this season.[LNB]"I want to express myself, relax, enjoy myself and play my football this season."[LNB]Walcott hopes all of his injury troubles are now behind him, having been plagued by a string of fitness problems during the last couple of campaigns.[LNB]"A lot of people haven't seen me play throughout a whole season," said Walcott, part of the England Under-21 squad which reached the final of the 2009 European Championships.[LNB]"In previous seasons I have put a lot of pressure on myself saying 'I don't want to get injured' and things like that.[LNB]"This season I am just going to go and enjoy it, express myself and show everybody what I can do."[LNB]Walcott - who netted a famous hat-trick in the World Cup qualifying win over Croatia during September 2008 in Zagreb - is ready to meet the challenge of cementing a permanent place in Capello's squad head on, with plenty competition for the wideman role.[LNB]However, the Arsenal winger was quick to pay tribute to David Beckham, who so often proved lethal when delivering balls into the box from the wing, but has seen his international career seemingly brought to an end by Capello.[LNB]"Becks has been that player who has always been there for me," Walcott said.[LNB]"Every time I go away I always sit next to him for dinners and the amount of emails and phone calls he has given me throughout the summer were very supportive words.[LNB]"I have kept my emails just to wind up my sister, who is quite jealous of that!"[LNB]Walcott added: "He is one of those guys I have so much respect for, and any young player growing up should look at him because for me, personally, he is one of the perfect professionals in the game."
