BURNLEY v ARSENAL GUNNS N ROSES
Walcott: We’re unstoppable and in full bloom right now
THEO WALCOTT believes Arsenal are good enough to beat any anyone at the moment. The Gun Gunners are undefeated since the opening day of the season when their rookie centralcent defence was ripped apart by LiverpoolLiverpo in a 4-3 spectacular. They ha have drawn twice since – at champions Leicester in the league and against ParisPa Saint- Germain in the Champions League. Arsene W Wenger’s men have won their other six matchesma and Walcott has played a major role,role with the rejuvenated winger the scourge of Basel on Wednesday with both goals in a 2-0 win. Now co comes a trip to Burnley – a forbiddingforbiddin arena where Liverpool have lostlo this season and where Watford were beaten six days ago. But Walcott,W 27, reflected the new-foundnew-foun Arsenal confidence when he said: ““It is going to be a hard game – but the w way we have been performing right fro from the start catches a lot of teams by surprise. “Burnl “Burnley won’t be looking forward to playing us.” Accord According to Walcott, one of the reasons b behind Arsenal’s revival since those diffi difficult early weeks is the players brought to the club during the summer transfer w window. “The ne new additions have definitely helped,” he said. “We are more and more ex experienced in the league and the intensityin starts from the front. “W “We act when the opposition get gets the ball and we do it as a un unit. Everyone acts together, n not just one or two. We are all c clicking at the same time and it bodes well. We are working hard in training as well and it is nice to see it paying off.”
His link with right-back Hector Bellerin has also caught the eye – both are blessed with significant speed, which provides a major headache for the opposition.
“With the amount of pace he and I have, you can rely on that at times,” said Walcott.
“It is important to have a good relationship with your full-back. But I don’t think it is just me and Hector. Alexis Sanchez and I are linking up very well, too.”
One new arrival has definitely made an impact. At £32million, central defender Shkodran Mustafi is a significant investment by Gunners boss Wenger.
And the Germany star has wasted no time in imposing himself on the team – in words as well as actions.
Challengers
“Of the new players, he especially gets people up for games,” added Walcott.
“If you are not doing something right, he tells you. He and Laurent Koscielny have been fantastic centre-backs and they have a good relationship.”
Walcott is aware of the high-tempo game employed by Sean Dyche at Burnley where the opposition rarely get a moment’s rest.
He said: “They don’t let you relax – but I don’t think we do either. We are very positive going into games now.”
So, could this be Arsenal’s year after so many seasons of near-misses?
Walcott added: “We are experienced, we know this is such a big club and we need to do better – but look at how we performed last season and finished second.”
Title challengers are queuing up, with a resurgent Liverpool in threatening form, but Walcott’s side are not distracted.
“We don’t start thinking about other teams and results,” he said. “All we need to do is think about Arsenal.”