It's important to enjoy yourself

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
21 Aug	3:00 PM	P	Blackpool (H)	6	0	Win

Nervous, rushed, eager to impress - these are words very much associated with the very much under-the-spotlight young footballer Theo Walcott.

But after seeing him score a fine hat-trick at the weekend, team-mate Tomas Rosicky believes the 21-year-old might finally be beginning to enjoy his football.

Arriving at Arsenal as the most expensive ever 16-year-old, opportunities to relax and get on with the game have been scarce, especially as the only high profile Englishman in Arsène Wenger's team of foreign stars.

Rosicky said: "I just hope he will not play football to answer his critics or something, I think the best way is to go out and enjoy his football - that's always what worked for me.

"Let's go out and enjoy the game and I think he enjoyed it against Blackpool."

After finally completing an injury free pre-season, playing alongside other exciting young English players in Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs, Emmanuel Frimpong and Jay Thomas, Walcott looks ready to lose the shackles and play with some freedom.

Combining well with Rosicky all afternoon against Blackpool, the two look like players with points to prove, after missing so much of previous seasons with niggling injuries.

The man himself admits this pre-season feels like something of a turning point for him, saying: "Pre-season is massive. I've been very unlucky with injuries last season. I'm 21 and I want to play games every week now, so it's a big season for me.

"I'm looking out for myself a bit more now - I'm one of the last to leave, I'm always staying behind now after training, practising things; crosses and set pieces and things like that."

But despite making the headlines against Blackpool, Theo insists he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

He added: "Scoring a hat-trick feels brilliant but the most important thing is that we got a win today and a clean sheet.

"It was a good result against Liverpool and Saturday, being the first game at home, was a big stepping stone and I think we need to push on from this result."

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