Theo Walcott has signed an extension of his contract at Arsenal and voiced confidence that the current generation of players at the Emirates will deliver silverware soon.
Arsenal are facing another trophy-less season after going out of the Champions League to Manchester United in midweek.
But it has been a significant campaign for Walcott, who has established himself as a first-choice player for his club and, after his memorable hat-trick in Croatia last year, for England.
The details of Walcott’s contract extension were not made public but the winger made it clear he sees himself spending the peak years of his career at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger, ”the best manager in the world”.
Wenger returned the compliment by describing Walcott as integral to the club’s future.
”Theo is an intelligent player with amazing ability and speed, and has developed extremely well this season,” the Frenchman said.
”At still only 20 years of age, Theo has huge potential for the forthcoming years and we are all looking forward to see him grow even more in an Arsenal shirt.”
Walcott added: ”This team can go very far. Every time I have a warm-down I look around the team and see there are some really good players here and I want to be part of it.
”Hopefully we can be right up there with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool and have a great challenge for it next year.”
After missing four months of this campaign with a shoulder injury that required surgery, Walcott is relishing the prospect of playing an even bigger role for Arsenal next season in the run-up to the World Cup finals in South Africa.
”Next season is going to be a big year for me and the club and I am definitely ready for it. It is a shame I have had some injuries this year, but I just want to have unbelievable seasons to come. I am going to put my head down, there is still loads of hard work to do.
”I have got to keep on working hard, try and get in that starting line-up every game and score goals which I will be judged on at the end.
”The main thing is to win trophies and I think this club can definitely win them.” — Sapa-AFP