‘We’re no pushovers’ says Theo Walcott

Early on in the season, Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas, still smarting from defeat at the hands of Manchester United, vowed that the Gunners would not be bullied any more.

That pledge looked pretty hollow last month when Chelsea arrived at the Emirates and walked all over Arsenal and appeared to knock them out of the title race. But the Gunners finally showed a bit of backbone as they came from behind against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, thanks to a bit of old-fashioned ranting from Arsene Wenger at half-time.

Fabregas afterwards admitted he had been taken aback by the usually suave Frenchman's team talk. "I have never seen him like that," said the Spaniard. "It worked, maybe he should do it more often."

Theo Walcott agrees. He told Arsenal TV: "The boss just showed his passion for the game... It woke us up and that's what you have got to do as a manager."

He revealed that Wenger was much happier with their second-half efforts. "The boss gave us a round of applause when we came in, and all the lads were bubbling," revealed the winger.

Walcott, who is the epitome of an Arsenal player, talented but inconsistent, said that the performance against Liverpool sent a message to the rest of the league.

He said: "Results like this show we are no pushovers. Being 1-0 down at Anfield, it is a hostile place, but we showed great spirit to come back and win."

However, he and his team mates will have to show that newly discovered mettle when they travel to Burnley on Wednesday night. If they buckle at Turf Moor, Walcott's words will seem as empty as Fabregas's did last month. ·