Theo Walcott wings in with a double as Arsenal delight in win over Basel

Theo Walcott’s epiphany, 10 years after first arriving at the club and at the grand old age of 27, that he is a winger not a striker inspired Arsenal to a Champions League victory over Basel and, coming just three days after a fine victory over Chelsea, has raised levels of positivity at the Emirates to new levels.

Arsene Wenger’s team, who beat deadly rivals Chelsea 3-0 at the weekend with one of their best performances in years, rose to their manager’s challenge to follow it up with an equally unequivocal display in the Champions League, easing past their Swiss opponents to make it eight games unbeaten in all competitions. Walcott, who for the best part of a decade has been telling everyone who would listen that he would rather been a centre-forward, was the inspiration – just as he was at the weekend.

This time he scored twice inside the first-half hour, taking his total to four (including three in a row in all competitions) after finally accepting he may never earn the striking role he craves and vowing instead to concentrate on what he does best on the right-hand touchline.