Arsenal finished their Premier League season with a convincing 4-1 win over West Brom on the last day of the campaign, which gave a number of the Gunners’ fringe players a chance to shine.

One that captured the headlines and reminded Arsene Wenger and the Emirates Stadium faithful of his qualities was Theo Walcott, who bagged a hat-trick in the victory.

The England international has found himself marginalised at the North London club this season, with the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey commanding the wide roles and Olivier Giroud as the first-choice in attack.

Despite having played most of his football as a winger, Walcott has made his desire to play as a number nine painstakingly clear.

With the former Southampton prodigy’s current contract running down, getting the chance to play as a striker could well be a key element in dictating Walcott’s future.

However, looking ahead to next season, Wenger has a decision to make over who his main striker will be.

The North Londoners need a centre forward that can score regularly for them and round off the inevitable chances that will be created by a supremely gifted midfield.

Here is the case for and against Walcott being deployed as the club’s central striker.

Pros

In Arsenal’s fluid attacking system, Wenger demands that his attacking players are comfortable in possession and can link-up well in the final third.

This is where Walcott could well be an upgrade on Giroud, with the Englishman having more vision and technical abilities that the former Montpellier targetman.

Walcott’s other real attribute is his searing pace, with the homegrown star’s presence through the middle making the Gunners a much more dangerous team on the counter attack.

Especially away from home, having Walcott, Sanchez and someone like Danny Welbeck across the Arsenal forward line would frighten the opposition into committing too many men forward, as the quick trio have the ability to strike on the break.

Walcott’s running off the ball and dribbling abilities are also much superior to Giroud’s, but in the long run it really depends on the opposition’s tactics to dictate whether the Englishman’s threat in-behind will be relevant.

Cons

Walcott may well have scored a hat-trick in Arsenal’s win over West Brom, but on another day he could have had double that.

There are still question marks over the flyer’s ability to score regularly, with most of his career being served as a creator rather than a finisher.

Giroud also offers much more of a physical threat, whether it be in the air or in tussling with opposition centre-halves, while the France international is adept at holding the ball up and giving his team an outlet.

Walcott has the attributes to be a dangerous number nine, but his slight frame and questionable finishing ability still insinuate that he is better served as a wide attacker rather than the focal point of the Arsenal attack.

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