Walcott tells Tottenham: Forget about reclaiming third place

LONDON: Theo Walcott (pic) has told Tottenham to forget about reclaiming third place from Arsenal.

Just one goal separates the two North London rivals, who both have 58 points from 31 games.

It could hardly be tighter but England winger Walcott said: “We can deal with pressure.

“We had that tough period – a lot of injuries, things weren’t going our way and Tottenham were 10 points ahead.

“But we dealt with that, we continued playing our football and completely turned it around.

“We have everything. People are coming out of their shells, playing at the top of their games and staying fit.

“We are learning to grind out results now.

“We have real character in the squad – a lot of leaders and captains – and that helps us.”

Manager Arsene Wenger is lining up a shock summer move for Swansea goal ace Gylfi Sigurdsson.

Wenger has sounded out the 22year-old’s former Reading boss Brian Mcdermott about the Icelandic star.

The midfielder has earned rave reviews since moving to the Swans on loan from Hoffenheim. He has scored six goals in 11 Premier League matches.

Mcdermott said: “I spoke to Arsene about him and you could not tell me he could not play for Arsenal.”

Meanwhile Marouane Chamakh says he is in no rush to leave Arsenal and has told his agent not to listen to offers from other clubs.

The Morocco striker is surplus to requirements at the Emirates after nearly seven months without a goal.

But with two years of his Gunners contract still to run he has made it clear that he will not allow himself to be forced out this summer.

Chamakh, 28, signed as a free agent from Bordeaux in 2010, insisted: “I’ve spoken to Arsene Wenger and I’m not leaving for now.

“He trusts my work and I’ll still have chances in the first team so I’ll stay.

“I left Bordeaux to improve as a player and I can contribute here.

“My agents have been ordered to reject bids that come from other clubs because I want to prove I can be useful for Arsenal.”

But the decision could be taken out of his hands by Arsenal, who are set to sell him for £6mil this summer.

He has scored only one goal all season and not started since the FA Cup thirdround against Leeds in January.

Bordeaux and Paris St Germain are interested.