Arsenal: Ranking Theo Walcott's 5 Best Goals for the Gunners This Season

What a season for Theo Walcott.

Under constant criticism from the fanbase in previous years, Walcott's obvious potential was finally met with results. The forward finished as top scorer for the club and put together an impressive string of performances for Arsenal.

Despite playing on the wing for most of the season, Walcott's tally of 21 goals and 14 assists in all competitions put him among the world's elite in terms of offensive production.

While many were routine finishes, Walcott had several spectacular goals, as this list will show.

Read on to see Theo Walcott's five best goals this season.

5. Arsenal vs. Reading, 5-2

Reading was essentially a punching bag for Arsenal this season.

The Gunners faced Reading three times this year, scoring a combined 16 times in those matches. Reading proved a tougher foe for Arsenal's defense however, and the Gunners failed to record a clean sheet against the side.

This peach of a goal came in a 5-2 victory in December. Walcott was in form and looking lively the whole match.

With a comfortable lead, Arsenal dictated play with authority and pushed on for more goals.

Santi Cazorla stormed up the center while Walcott coolly drifted to the right to open up space.

The Spaniard found Walcott easily, and the forward made no mistake. Sidestepping his defender with a cut to the inside, Walcott slid home, nailing the coffin to wrap up three points.

His newfound composure in front of net was on display with the delicate left-footed finish.

4. Arsenal vs. Newcastle, 1-0

After weeks of media pressure surrounding Theo Walcott and his supposed desire to play striker, the Englishman finally got his chance.

Arsene Wenger was trying to convince the youngster to sign a new contract at the time, and giving him the start through the middle was the perfect solution.

Walcott had taken the No. 14 shirt for the Gunners in honor of Thierry Henry, and his opening goal might as well have been crafted by his idol.

Lukas Podolski held the ball briefly on the left while Walcott moved into position. Podolski spotted the forward and sent a through ball clear on the left.

Walcott drifted in with the ball and calmly curled home beyond Tim Krul and into the corner of the net.

Thierry Henry looked on from the stands in admiration, as Arsenal and Newcastle played out an incredible match at the Emirates.

3. Arsenal vs. Reading, 1-4

The start of the epic comeback.

After going down four goals inside the half to Reading in the League Cup, Walcott notched one back for the Gunners on the stroke of halftime.

In typical fashion, Walcott was played through on goal using his burst of speed to get in behind the defense.

While in years past he might have sprayed his shot wide, Walcott showed tremendous maturity to lift the ball over an onrushing keeper.

That deft touch to chip the ball into the net indicated the improvement Walcott had made in his finishing capability.

More to come from this game...

2. Arsenal vs. Reading, 6-5

The completion of the incredible comeback.

What seemed like an impossible task was made reality when Walcott found the net in the 120th minute.

After going ahead in extra time, Arsenal were pegged back as the game looked destined for penalties.

One last surge from Arsenal changed the history books. Andrei Arshavin—in a rare appearance this season—stormed in from the left. The crowd held their breath as the little Russian ignored his teammates in the middle and looked to finish the game off himself.

His shot was saved, but it spilled out toward Walcott. With one confident smash of his right boot, the ball flew into the net in front of the Arsenal faithful.

The goal completed Walcott's hat trick and sealed the remarkable victory for the Gunners.

1. Arsenal vs. Newcastle, 7-3

Persistence.

How many players would have simply remained on the ground after being clipped down in the box?

Arsenal were already three up, and Walcott had recorded two assists to go along with a pair of goals.

Instead, Walcott showed admirable determination, getting back on his feet and delicately chipping Tim Krul from a tight angle.

It was a night to remember for Theo Walcott as the goal completed his hat-trick and Arsenal hit seven en route to three points on a wild night in London.

Walcott collects the ball on the wing, cuts through four Newcastle defenders and still manages to cap off the run with a sumptuous goal—his best of the season.