# Article: Walcott - Why Cardiff strike meant so much
Walcott - Why Cardiff strike meant so much
By Chris Harris
No prizes for guessing the highlight of Theo Walcott's season. The clinical finish, the 'aeroplane' celebration and thousands of Arsenal fans going barmy - it has to be his goal in the Carling Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium.
Walcott ended up on the losing side as Chelsea hit back to win 2-1 in Cardiff but the 18-year-old's first goal for Arsenal was still a moment to savour. Speaking to Arsenal.com at a Willow Foundation event this week, Walcott revealed just how much it meant to him and the benefits of breaking his duck.
"I met a couple of people tonight who told me they have never felt happier for someone scoring their first goal, which says a lot," he said.
"My dad, my whole family were loving it and you could tell from my reaction how much it meant to me. I'd been waiting for a while and I was getting some stick in the papers, so I was told. It was good to score and prove people wrong.
"Was it in the back of my mind? Well, people were expecting me to get goals and I wasn't too worried because I was getting plenty of assists, but the first goal always helps. And having that one will help me next season, definitely."
Walcott's strike was the high point of a first-half performance which the 18-year-old rates as Arsenal's best of the season. It was certainly heartening to see the likes of Denilson, Abou Diaby and Armand Traore matching Chelsea's world-famous faces, even if Didier Drogba's double did ultimately dash their hopes.
That defeat was the beginning of the end for Arsenal's season with exits from the FA Cup and Champions League just around the corner. Nonetheless, Walcott believes there is enough evidence to suggest that Arsène Wenger's team can challenge for honours next season.
"It has been a high and low season really," he said. "It has been a disappointment in terms of not winning anything but the positive we will take is the potential of this team and the knowledge of what we can do next season. We have such a young squad and we will get better.
"It was a big disappointment not to win the Carling Cup but it shows what the young players can do and hopefully we can do it again. And I'm sure if we work hard we will be right up there in the title race too.
"Our home form should improve. Emirates was a new stadium for us last season and we dropped quite a few points there to be fair. My dad has done his homework - he thinks we could have gained an extra 12 points!
"But Emirates Stadium is our home now. Almost every time Arsenal get the first goal, teams don't come back."
I can't wait for the new season! =) 61 more days!
By Chris Harris
No prizes for guessing the highlight of Theo Walcott's season. The clinical finish, the 'aeroplane' celebration and thousands of Arsenal fans going barmy - it has to be his goal in the Carling Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium.
Walcott ended up on the losing side as Chelsea hit back to win 2-1 in Cardiff but the 18-year-old's first goal for Arsenal was still a moment to savour. Speaking to Arsenal.com at a Willow Foundation event this week, Walcott revealed just how much it meant to him and the benefits of breaking his duck.
"I met a couple of people tonight who told me they have never felt happier for someone scoring their first goal, which says a lot," he said.
"My dad, my whole family were loving it and you could tell from my reaction how much it meant to me. I'd been waiting for a while and I was getting some stick in the papers, so I was told. It was good to score and prove people wrong.
"Was it in the back of my mind? Well, people were expecting me to get goals and I wasn't too worried because I was getting plenty of assists, but the first goal always helps. And having that one will help me next season, definitely."
Walcott's strike was the high point of a first-half performance which the 18-year-old rates as Arsenal's best of the season. It was certainly heartening to see the likes of Denilson, Abou Diaby and Armand Traore matching Chelsea's world-famous faces, even if Didier Drogba's double did ultimately dash their hopes.
That defeat was the beginning of the end for Arsenal's season with exits from the FA Cup and Champions League just around the corner. Nonetheless, Walcott believes there is enough evidence to suggest that Arsène Wenger's team can challenge for honours next season.
"It has been a high and low season really," he said. "It has been a disappointment in terms of not winning anything but the positive we will take is the potential of this team and the knowledge of what we can do next season. We have such a young squad and we will get better.
"It was a big disappointment not to win the Carling Cup but it shows what the young players can do and hopefully we can do it again. And I'm sure if we work hard we will be right up there in the title race too.
"Our home form should improve. Emirates was a new stadium for us last season and we dropped quite a few points there to be fair. My dad has done his homework - he thinks we could have gained an extra 12 points!
"But Emirates Stadium is our home now. Almost every time Arsenal get the first goal, teams don't come back."
I can't wait for the new season! =) 61 more days!