PENNY HAS DROPPED FOR WALCOTT

THEO WALCOTT insists that he is finally on the right track to fulfil his ‘boy wonder’ tag. The Arsenal star was tipped for greatness after bursting on to the scene for Southampton as a 16-year-old in 2005. Less than 12 months later, Walcott had moved to Arsenal and was named in the England squad for the World Cup. Arsene Wenger believes the disappointment of being left out of England’s Euro 2016 squad has played a key role in giving him renewed vigour this season — a timely kick up the backside, according to the manager. Walcott’s three goals in six Arsenal appearances suggest that the 27-year-old is on the right track. ‘Where did my change in mindset come from? It probably was from myself,’ said Walcott. ‘I found it difficult last year. Towards the end of the season, I didn’t get opportunities but I was still working hard. It is probably from then. ‘I spoke to many people and it maybe woke up something in my system. I am completely different. ‘I just want to be better and better. People have had so much faith in me and you never give up. I tend to think that I need to repay people, but I also think I need to do it for myself now. ‘Maybe in the past, I was thinking about others and not myself. ‘I am enjoying life and I’m enjoying football. There are always ups and downs. I have been through many of them but, at the moment, things are great.’ Walcott is expected to start in tonight’s Champions League clash against Basle as the Gunners try to build on the encouraging 1-1 draw they enjoyed at Paris Saint-Germain on matchday one. The forward had quite a start to his career, earning plaudits for his phenomental speed in particular, but he did not reach the same heights in the following years. In fact, he even came close to leaving Arsenal in frustration at his lack of game time. Similarly, his England career has not gone to plan. Walcott has been to only one tournament — Euro 2012 — since his shock inclusion in 2006. Wenger certainly hopes the new Walcott can continue his team’s revival tonight. The manager, whose team enter this evening’s game off the back of a superb 3-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, said: ‘Building on the draw in Paris is a big motivation for us because we know that there were two favourites at the start — PSG and Arsenal — but it’s not as easy as that. ‘So we have to show that. I think my team is on the way up. ‘It’s important to keep the quality very high in our performance and not to have an unexpected setback.’