Walcott: Arsenal form ´not good enough´

Theo Walcott has described Arsenal’s run of three consecutive league defeats as ‘not good enough’ and urged his team-mates to hit back.

Arsenal are in fifth place in the Premier League, level on 36 points with Newcastle United, but five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, and their recent form has not helped matters – with consecutive defeats to Fulham, Swansea and Manchester United.

The 22-year-old admitted his manager Arsene Wenger had taken a lot of the criticism for the recent dip in form and called for the team to step up and take responsibility.

“The manager will take all the stick,” Walcott told the Daily Telegraph.

“He looks after us. He believes in us.”

“As players we need to look at ourselves. We need to take responsibility. The last few games haven’t been good enough.”

“The worst thing is we have a lot of regrets. There are games we could have won.”

“When you go to Swansea and score two goals you should win.”

Walcott also spoke of his captain Robin van Persie and praised his influence within the dressing room.

“We always like to reflect on the game in the dressing room, even at half-time, sharing our feelings on the game,” Walcott said.

“Robin is a great captain who wants to win. He believes in the team and knows the team can do better.”

Arsenal face Aston Villa in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday before a league trip to Bolton the following week.