Thursday 29 September 2016 00:26, UK
Arsenal forward Theo Walcott hailed his partnership with Alexis Sanchez after starring in a 2-0 win over Basel and says he is working "harder than ever".
Walcott struck twice as Arsenal eased to their first victory of the Champions League group stage, the scoreline betraying the Gunners' dominance at the Emirates.
An early header was followed up by a drilled effort midway through the first half and Walcott now has five goals in his last seven games.
"What's happened in my early career, I've been around for a long-time and I'm not going to dwell about what's happened in the past," Walcott told reporters.
"I think the age I am, the experience I've had, the games I've had and the amount of goals I've scored this season is a different level.
"I'm working hard, harder than I ever have and I just want to be the best I can. If I can do that it's going to benefit the team. I want to improve every day; going into work and being a better person and a better player as well and that's just the way I am now.
"I always feel if I've done everything right in the week then come matchday I don't have to think about anything at all because it's all about the match and it seems to be going well at the moment."
Walcott was full of praise for Sanchez and talked up the pair's understanding.
"It's getting a good sort of partnership there, but it's not just that, the whole team seems to be clicking. Me and Hector (Bellerin) have got a good relationship on that right-hand side, it's quite a pacy right-hand side," Walcott told Arsenal.com after the game.
"I think the whole team tends to react well and defend well as a unit and clean sheets are going to win games because we're going to score plenty of goals.
"That combination between me and Alexis, it's boding well but it's obviously still very early into the season, so hopefully we can all stay fit and it's going to be a good run."
