THEO WALCOTT fired his 50th goal for Arsenal — and then demanded a regular starting spot.
The England winger netted the 18th-minute opener in Germany on only his fourth start of the season.
He said: “I just want to play and, hopefully, I can have a run in the team. I feel I fully deserve it.
“We will try to win our last couple of group games – that is all we can do. If we do that we’ll get into the Champions League knockout stages and that’s the main thing.”
Off the pitch, Walcott has seen talks over a new contract drag on.
When asked if he has been frozen out because of ongoing negotiations, the 23-year-old added: “You’ll have to ask the manager. I can’t answer that.
“I just want to play for this team and hopefully we’ll win the Premier League.”
Olivier Giroud made it 2-0 to Arsenal in this Group B clash before Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jefferson Farfan struck for the hosts.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said: “German sides have physical and technical quality.
“They also never give up so I never felt the game was over, even at 2-0 up.
“What is important for us is that we win the next game at home against Montpellier and see what happens elsewhere. It can go to the last game but we cannot let it.
“Still, we have responded well to Saturday’s defeat at Manchester United.
“If we continue to develop, in one month we will be there.”
Turning his attention to Walcott, Wenger added: “Theo was one of our best players.
“People forget he was injured for a long time and he’s just come back now.
“We all know he is a great player and it’s no coincidence that he had the chance to score in the last minute.”
The Sun
