It was a long road back for Theo Walcott after suffering a serious knee injury against Spurs in 2014. The Arsenal forward spent a long time on the treatment table and only featured 21 times for the Gunners last season.

However, his last three competitive appearances in an Arsenal shirt will give Walcott the confidence that he has got his career back on track.

Those three appearances were of course against Chelsea on Sunday, Aston Villa in the FA Cup final and against West Brom in Arsenal's final home game of last season. In those matches, Walcott played as the sole striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation where he netted on four occasions.

He didn't score in the Community Shield on Sunday and by all accounts, he had a very quiet game at Wembley, but the hat-trick against the Baggies and the fine volley he netted against Villa in the FA Cup final were certainly timely reminders to boss Arsene Wenger that Walcott could be the main striker at the Emirates this season.

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Some would think it's about time too, as Walcott has been at Arsenal for a long time now - since the 2005/06 season - and in that time his best tally of goals was 14, notched in the 2012/13 season. However, injuries in the last two seasons has hindered Walcott, as he looked to build on those figures.

He has many of the attributes to do it as well; intelligent movement, speed, deadly finishing and a poacher’s instinct: on days like his hat-trick against West Brom, it is easy to see why Walcott sees himself as a central striker.

However, there will always be question marks surrounding Walcott and his ability to play as a main striker, as he is lacking in the hold up play of a Olivier Giroud, and doesn't possess the physicality and strengths over a Diego Costa or Sergio Aguero.

And perhaps, against Chelsea, Wenger was testing whether Walcott could play in that role against the best possible opposition. Whether he really found the answer remains to be seen, but from the naked eye, without space Walcott looks half the player, and the question marks around his hold up play is there for all to see.

He isn't suited to playing with his back to goal like Giroud is and he isn't suited to linking the play like the Frenchman - so whether Walcott can really be considered as the main striker at Arsenal is still a contentious issue.

Wenger certainly thinks Walcott can fill that main striking role, saying: "He can do it (play up front) on a regular basis for us.

"When he got injured it was playing as a central striker against Tottenham. It took him a while to get back to his best form but I think in the future he will be a central striker."

Maybe he will get back to his best form and play as a main striker. He has different strengths to Giroud as his searing pace stretches defences and allows space for Arsenal's talented play makers to play, whilst we know Giroud prefers to link the play with his back to goal.

Both techniques work but you sense that in the bigger games, Giroud will be the preferred option with Walcott as a impact sub. The England man will be used as the main striker against the lesser teams where Arsenal won't be so reliant on his hold up play.

Now is the time for Walcott to deliver consistently for Arsenal, but it does look like the former Saints man will have to bide his time before really nailing down that striking role he has always strived for.

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