Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Theo Walcott can become a "prolific goalscorer" at the club after the forward scored the opener in the team's 2-0 win over Stoke City on Saturday.
Walcott netted his first goal of the season at the Emirates Stadium after latching onto Mesut Ozil's through-ball and driving in a right-footed shot just after the half hour mark before Olivier Giroud ensured all three points with his header with six minutes to go.
Walcott has struggled to displace the France striker for a starting place up front this term but, after scoring against Stoke, Wenger insists the England international can become a player to rely on for the goals in the future.
Speaking after the 2-0 win, Wenger said: "Theo Walcott scored a great goal. It required technical ability to finish.
"He can become a prolific goalscorer."
Arsenal were expected to bolster their attacking options this summer by dipping into the transfer market and buying a new striker, with Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema regularly being linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium.
But after failing to recruit another striker, Wenger suggested on Friday he is not concerned with his options up front because he expects Walcott, Giroud and Alexis Sanchez to score 20 goals each this term.
"We will have to spread [the goals] through the squad," he told the club's official website.
"I think Giroud, Walcott and Alexis can get around 20 goals without any problem.
"Sometimes you have to trust your players and play them. Then they get there. People always want the absolute certainty that they will be absolutely successful. It is not like that."
