Reports are out claiming that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was pleased with Theo Walcott’s goalscoring performance in victory over Stoke City.
The Frenchman was criticised for refusing to add to his strike options during the transfer window, but both Walcott and his replacement Olivier Giroud were on target at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners moved second in the fledgling Premier League table.
“If Walcott plays and scores everybody says Walcott is good,” Wenger said. “But before the game everybody says ‘why did you not buy a striker?’
“If I bought a striker Walcott would not have played. It’s always a vicious circle.
“At some stage you’ve just to believe in your players and give them a chance.”
Walcott’s first Arsenal goal of the season, after his double for England at San Marino, came after 31 minutes but he might have had a hat-trick before then.
“I believe he can be a prolific goalscorer because you come out of the game and think how many chances he had,” Wenger said.
“The bigger the belief he will have to score, the more he will score. He gets in good situations.
“He scored a great goal, I must say. He needed technical quality to do it and calm in the finishing. It’s good that Giroud came on and scored as well.”