Fear of making an unwanted bit of history drives Walcott

Theo Walcott has revealed the thought of being the first Arsenal side in a generation to miss out on Champions League football has driven the squad back into the top four of the Premier League.

The Gunners moved back above north London rivals Tottenham with a 4-1 win over Wigan at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night, a result which confirmed the FA Cup winners’ relegation.

Arsenal now head to Newcastle on Sunday with their destiny back in their own hands, a point ahead of Spurs following a nine-match unbeaten run since losing at White Hart Lane on March 3, and could yet finish above Chelsea should the Europa League finalists slip up against Everton.

Walcott has every confidence Arsene Wenger’s men can now finish the job at St James’ Park and deliver a 16th successive shot at Europe’s elite club competition.

“We just have great experience in knowing what to do when the time is right. It is funny. It happens every year,” said Walcott.

“We tend to finish very strong. I think it is just because the players want it so much.

“It (Champions League football) is big for the future of the club and the players.

“We have been in it for the last 15 years and we don’t want to be the players who are not part of that.

“We just need to show that in the mid-season and at the start and we could hopefully be even higher than we are and not have this situation we are in. But it is very positive, and we will be fighting strong on Sunday.”

With Olivier Giroud serving the last of his three-match suspension, German forward Lukas Podolski was deployed in a central striker role, scoring the opening goal on 11 minutes and Arsenal’s third just after the hour.

Walcott has made no secret of his desire to the lead the attack as he had done to great effect earlier in the campaign.

“Wherever the manager wants to play me, I will do that for the team. You can’t fault Lukas at all — he grabbed two goals up front and I got one as well,” said Walcott.

“So if things are going well, there is no need to change anything.”

Arsenal could be without midfielder Mikel Arteta because of a calf injury which could mean calling upon Jack Wilshere, the England international set for summer surgery to clear up a niggling ankle problem.