Theo Walcott says he is relishing starting matches for Arsenal - because he believes the team “can go places” this season.

Fabricio Coloccini’s second-half own goal gave Arsène Wenger’s side a hard-fought victory at 10-man Newcastle United on Saturday afternoon.

Walcott twice went close to registering his first goal of the season at St James’ Park and the forward says he is confident in his ability to score regularly.

"I’ve been very patient since my knee injury and just want to play football for this team because I feel like we can go places this year"

“I enjoy playing anywhere in the front line,” he told Arsenal Player. “The manager gave me an opportunity and it’s a shame I couldn’t help him out there by getting those goals but they’ll come.

“It was difficult after they went to 10 men, but you need to be able to adapt. I’ve been very patient since my knee injury and just want to play football for this team because I feel like we can go places this year.

“Once they did go to 10 men we found it more and more difficult to actually get in behind them. They condensed the pitch and we found it difficult.

“The gameplan was pretty difficult after that but we had to adapt to what we were put up against and we just had to be very patient.

“We said at half-time to just be patient and luckily in the end we got a deflected goal.

“I had opportunities but I just didn’t take them. Like I said before, I would on another day. If I came out and had no chances at all I would be very disappointed.

“It’s good that I was in there and I know that I can do better, but we got the three points and that’s most important.”