Arsenal’s Theo Walcott braced for ‘intense’ Liverpool clash

Theo Walcott is braced for an “intense” showdown when Arsenal host Liverpool on Wednesday, with just three points between the two sides in the table.

The Gunners are currently in sixth place but Brendan Rodgers’ men are right behind the north Londoners as both sides prepare to scrap for a top-four finish.

Walcott believes Arsenal are strong enough to beat the Reds but is expecting a serious test from the Merseysiders at Emirates Stadium.

“It’s going to be an intense game,” Walcott told Arsenal’s website. “Both teams are fighting for that fourth position and are very close together.

“But I think the way we played at home the other day [against West Ham United] shows that we are strong enough to beat them.”

The England international, who recently signed a new long-term deal with Arsenal, believes that the Gunners are finding some form again after securing back-to-back wins over West Ham and Brighton.

He added: “Yes [the momentum is growing]. It has been up and down, there have been patches of brilliance, but we need to do it in every game.

“We have tended to start slowly and then wake up and that’s something we need to get out of our system. It’s about being concentrated.”