Theo Walcott: Arsenal are more of a team without Cesc Fabregas & Samir Nasri

The 22-year-old believes the Gunners have bonded more as a unit since the midfielders' departures, but admits the club need to ease the scoring burden on Robin van Persie

4 Jan 2012 18:51:00

By Edward Tibbles

More On :  Arsenal FC, Samir Nasri, Theo Walcott, Cesc Fàbregas
Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, Arsenal
Getty Images

Theo Walcott has claimed Arsenal are much more of a team following the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri from the Emirates.

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The players' departures to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively in the summer saw Arsene Wenger make a number of last-minute signings as he looked to shore up his squad following the 8-2 defeat to Manchester United.

Walcott has suggested that since Fabregas and Nasri left the club, the Gunners have begun to work harder as a unit, and that losing two talismanic midfielders has increased the bond between the current crop of players at the club.

"I'm not saying that Cesc and Samir were individual players, they were great team players, but when you lose two top players everyone needs to come together," Walcott told Arsenal Player.

"The manager has brought in some good additions and we are a bit more of a team, we work harder when we haven't got the ball.

"We have a lot more clean sheets as well, and having [Thomas] Vermaelen back is very important as he is a massive player for us."

Whilst the former Southampton man has praised his side's improved defensive record, he is aware that the Gunners need to ease the goalscoring burden on striker Robin van Persie.

"The next thing the whole team needs to share the goals more,” Walcott admitted.

"Samir and Cesc used to get quite a lot of them and Robin van Persie has been getting most of them so that's our next step."

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