Theo Walcott is a very good finisher.

That much was never really in doubt. He’s very fast, too and his movement from the right flank has always been good. The Englishman wants a central role in the team but hasn’t shown he has the ability nor the all-round game to play in the middle of the park.

Until now.

Walcott led the line magnificently against Manchester United, and he looks ready to do it on a permanent basis.

No goals but two assists summed up his unselfish performance on Sunday afternoon. Tackling Bastian Schweinsteiger and constantly harassing the Manchester United backline summed up Arsenal’s.

Theo displayed an incredible amount of desire to win the ball back and set the tone for the Gunners as he defended from the front. His strength on the ball was also evident, Walcott held play up well under heavy pressure from Chris Smalling and Daley Blind.

Going forward, his selections were excellent. In the past, he has been dismissed as a player without a ‘footballing brain’ but, even when Arsenal were countering and decisions had to be made in a split second, Walcott was superb.

A calm assist for Mesut Özil saw Walcott square up Blind and wait patiently for Özil, who he perfectly passed to. Later it was Alexis on the receiving end, as Theo spun on the ball and fed the Chilean for his superb second goal of the game. The pass could have been better, but Walcott’s awareness created the opening.

He has the movement, and the finishing. Now his all-round game is improving too. Theo Walcott showed on Sunday, he really could become the striker Arsenal fans wanted the club to sign in the summer.