Theo Walcott: Forget my striker ambitions, I’m a right winger

The 27-year-old has failed to make a regular impact when thrust into the lone striker’s role, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger often overlooking him for Olivier Giroud.

Now, Walcott has told the Frenchman his favoured position is as a right winger, although Arsenal’s apparent pursuit of Leicester City’s Riyad Mahrez and Wolfsburg’s Julian Draxler cast doubt on whether it will save his Emirates career.

“I have been here 10 years,” said Walcott. “There is always competition for places. It doesn't matter what club you are at. I always believe that I can get back to where I want to be. I'm sure if I keep working hard then I will get there.

“I have told the manager that I want to be known for playing on the right again. I can play up front. I want to know where I want to play. The manager has said I can play up front. It depends on what game it is.

“I know I can do a job up front, as well as on the right. I want to make my position on the right – that's where I know where I am now.”

Walcott, who missed out on a spot in Roy Hodgson’s 23-man squad for Euro 2016, has failed to score double figures in his last three seasons.

It’s a pretty sorry tale.

When he was called up to the England squad for the 2006 World Cup aged 17, few thought a decade down the road that his career would have stagnated so vastly.

He made such grand statements about being a striker, yet he barely delivered. Searing pace aside, he did not have the quality or composure to put away his chances.

Sadly, the question increasingly isn’t where Walcott should play, but if he should play at all.