First he was angry with Arsene Wenger, then he blamed Arsenal and, finally, Theo Walcott realised it was him who needed to change if he was going to escape a vicious circle that threatened to become the story of his career.

Walcott had become stuck in a cycle that went something like this – injury, comeback, promising return, tail off, get dropped or injured and repeat. But working his way out of his comfort zone has seen the 27-year-old win back his Arsenal place and put himself in contention for a first England start in 12 months against Malta on Saturday.

It was a combination of being dropped for Arsenal’s Champions League defeat to Barcelona at the Emirates in February and the realisation of how he was viewed within the club after last season’s defeat to Manchester United that prompted Walcott to look in the mirror.