Theo Walcott plays down Arsenal's title challenge hype

Arsenal forward Theo Walcott has played down the hype surrounding the title race as the Gunners finished 2013 top of the pile.

Walcott was a part of the team that beat Newcastle United on Sunday and scored two vital goals on Boxing Day as Arsenal won 3-1 against West Ham.

He has recently returned from injury but has played down the title race hype as the teams at the top remain so close together.

“Every game that goes and we get wins, it’s more belief that we are going to win the league,” he told the club’s official website.

“But we won’t get ahead of ourselves. We know how crucial every game is and we have got to make sure we look after ourselves, really, and hopefully teams will start to slip up.

“But as long as we keep on believing, which everyone is there, and which we have been doing from the start of the season.

“Hopefully everyone can stay fit, which is important, to have a nice run towards the end of this season now.”

Walcott assisted Olivier Giroud in scoring the only goal but thought his free-kick had gone straight in at first. However, he was glad for his French teammate who he claims was rewarded for his recent hard-working performances.

“When you play up front, you want to score goals. He hasn’t scored for a few games now, so that goal will give him a lot of confidence,” he said.

“You need your main striker to be scoring up front throughout. I didn’t think he touched it, to be fair, when I free-kicked it in, but I am happy for him because he deserved it.

“He works really hard for us up front all the time. He’s had a massive role to make us stay at the top of the league, so hopefully he can stay fit now and hopefully that’s not too much of a bad scar on his foot.”