Ian Wright has urged Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to 'unleash' Theo Walcott and give the forward an extended run of games in his preferred central role.
The 26-year-old has been used as a winger for the majority of his career but believes that he has the capacity to lead the Gunners' front line this season.
The England international has scored 11 goals in his last 11 Premier League starts and is vying for position with Olivier Giroud.
Walcott has been given the nod ahead of the French forward in Arsenal's last two games and is in contention to claim a third successive starting berth against Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday night.
The two strikers offer very different threats and Wright is adamant that Walcott deserves to be given an opportunity to build on his early season form as Arsenal prepare to start their Champions League campaign.
"Everyone's had their say on Arsenal's failure to bring in another striker and now I hope that Theo Walcott is given a genuine run of games up there.
"The Gunners will always create chances and I feel it's time to unleash Theo and let him prove he can do it," Wright told the Sun.
"The challenge is for the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla to release him as quickly as possible whe he makes those runs.
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"I do think he could be clinical, I do think he can play up there and I do think Arsenal will get out of their Champions League group at the very least."
If Walcott starts tonight's clash in Croatia he will have the task of unlocking a defence that is unbeaten in 41 games as the north London club attempt to kick off their European campaign with a victory.
