Walcott says they can do it

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE: Portsmouth 0 Arsenal 3THEO WALCOTT is not used to having an away crowd on his back. His status as England's newest golden boy, coupled with his honesty and even temperament, generally protects him from rival fans' taunts. However, the Arsenal winger had never played at Fratton Park before and Portsmouth's ramshackle stadium is no place for an ex-Southampton man.

Walcott’s every involvement was jeered and he was sufficiently stirred up by the time of his 64th-minute substitution to make the classic footballer’s gesture of defiance: the prolonged applause of his team’s support, with arms stretched high above his head, and then the slow walk off the field.

It was not the first time the 20-year-old had felt his ears burn. Walcott’s abiding memory of Old Trafford and the first leg of the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday came after the game, which Manchester United won 1-0, en route to the team bus.

“There were fans there and they were shouting ‘We are not scared of you’ and a few swear words, shall we say,” he recalled. “We got a bit of stick.”

Walcott will relish a return to home comforts at the Emirates tomorrow night when United visit for the second leg, a fixture he describes as the biggest of the Arsenal players’ careers, and he is fired up to enjoy the last laugh.

He admits that neither he nor the creative talents around him sparkled at Old Trafford, but, echoing the sentiments of his manager, Arsene Wenger, he is convinced Arsenal are primed to show their true colours.

“I think we got away with it (in the first leg) because of the number of chances that United had,” he said. “We would have taken a 1-0 defeat beforehand and especially so (afterwards), given their chances. But everyone is buzzing and we cannot wait for the second leg. We’re on our own pitch, in front of our own fans and that will be crucial.

“It’s the biggest game of our careers and I think we can do it. We have to believe we can get the result, and we do believe that. It will have to be our best performance of the season, but we can get through.”

Walcott mentioned a 1-0 win as being within Arsenal’s scope, which would set up extra-time and the possibility of penalties. He appeared steeled for the tie to go the distance, but Arsenal will enter it with batteries recharged.

Wenger rested all but three of his likely starters – Bacary Sagna, Alex Song and Walcott – against a Portsmouth team that showed a lack of adventure until they were 2-0 down and finished with 10 men, following Noe Pamarot’s foul on Andrey Arshavin.

Arsenal were helped by David James’s handling error for Nicklas Bendtner’s first goal and a refereeing error for his second, when Lee Mason adjudged that Sean Davis had tripped Arshavin, Arsenal’s stand-in captain. Arshavin even waved his forefinger to urge Mason not to give the penalty, as Davis had taken the ball with his slide tackle, but the referee did not listen.

Arsenal played within themselves, and Denilson and Bendtner, in particular, proved they are ready for their roles, most likely as substitutes, against United.

“I know on Tuesday we will not win with 11 players,” said Wenger. “You win with 14 players.”

Wenger said United’s resting of Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher and Anderson in the 2-0 victory at Middlesbrough on Saturday suggested the trio would reprise their impressive midfield partnership, with “three up” again in front of them.

The Frenchman, who will give late fitness tests to Mikael Silvestre and Robin van Persie, is still pondering the composition of his team.

“We looked more comfortable (in a 4-4-2 against Portsmouth), but when you play Walcott on the right, you play more 4-3-2-1,” said Wenger. “He is a winger, not a midfielder, so you have to balance the side to be a bit more defensive. Also, when (Cesc) Fabregas plays behind the striker, the striker looks to be a little isolated, so you have to get the balance right.”

The tension is rising, the pressure firmly on.

GuardianService