Theo Walcott attributes incredible form to working hard and 'wanting to repay people who showed faith in him'

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Last season was difficult for Theo Walcott. After looking like he would finally make the centre forward role his own with a string of impressive performances, injury struck and his confidence was lost. So was his place in Arsenal's starting eleven.

Walcott began to lose even the strongest of admirers after drifting through a number of games with little impact. Missing out on England's 23-man squad for the European Championship was the icing on the cake, and that was the moment where something had to change. 

Speaking at Arsenal's pre-match news conference ahead of their Champions League clash against Basel, the 27-year-old revealed that the upturn in his fortunes all came from a minor attitude change.  

Theo Walcott believes that a slight change in attitude allowed him to perform at his best again

'I found it difficult last year - coming towards the end of the season I didn't get my opportunities but I was still working hard,' Walcott told Arsenal's official website.

'I've worked hard from the back end of last season and I've just continued to do that throughout the whole summer.

'I spoke to many people and it maybe woke up something in my system, I don't know. I am completely different. I just want to be better and better, people have had so much faith in me and I tend to think I need to repay people.

The 27-year-old revealed he wants to start 'repaying people who showed so much faith in him'

'But I also think I need to do it for myself now. Maybe in the past I was thinking about others and not myself, [but now I want to] get that balance right, to switch back and forth about when to do the right thing.

'At the moment things are great, I am enjoying life and enjoying football. There are always ups and downs, I have been through many of them but for now it is going well.'

Walcott marked his 350th appearance for Arsenal with a goal in the 3-0 demolition of Chelsea, and Arsene Wenger had a feeling he would come good in the summer.

Walcott marked his 350th appearance for Arsenal with a goal in the 3-0 demolition of Chelsea

'I said many times at the start of the season that we would see a different Theo Walcott. I could see he made a decision and sticks to it,' said the Frenchman.

'I always felt there was character in this boy and intelligence. Walcott used to be 90 per cent forward and 10 per cent defending - now he does it 50-50 and does the job in both ways with commitment.

'He has matured and, when a player survives these disappointments after what you have promised at 16 and the way he dealt with the situations, I always thought there was something special in this guy.'