Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has claimed that Theo Walcott has vindicated his decision not to sign a striker during the summer.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech was the Gunners' only signing in a transfer window which also saw them heavily linked with a move for Real Madrid hitman Karim Benzema, but nothing materialised.

The England international has since been granted opportunities through the middle, having spent most of his Arsenal career on the wing, with Walcott netting four times in six starts after displacing Olivier Giroud as their number nine.

"At the start of the season, I faced questions from everybody - 'why don't you buy a central striker?' So sometimes you have to have strong beliefs and show the players as well that you believe in them in that position," Wenger is quoted as saying by The Mirror.

"I always said that he will play through the middle. It took him a while to come back after his knee injury, I must say. But now in the last few games, he always looks dangerous in this position."

Walcott, 26, is expected to lead the forward line when Arsenal travel to Watford on Saturday evening.